MANILA – He sent in the clowns. This is what Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday criticized Vice President Jejomar Binay of doing, referring to the latter’s practice of sending spokespersons to the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee’s hearings.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Cayetano said that that the spokesperson Binay has been sending are “clowns,” who want to turn the proceedings into a political “circus,” as they have nothing substantial to counter the allegations against Binay.
Cayetano emphasized that he is upholding the Senate Blue Ribbon committee’s decision to disallow Binay’s spokespersons Rep. Tobias Tiangco and Atty. JV Bautista from speaking at the November 6 hearing; nor can either representative even as much as read a statetment from Binay
This is not the first time the committee has barred Tiangco and Bautista from speaking at the hearings. The two were also not allowed to testify at the October 30 proceedings.
“Bakit namin pagsasalitain ang spokesmen na walang sasabihin na may value sa investigation kundi tirahin ang committee?” Hindi naman kami papayag na wasakin nila at gawin nilang political circus. Inaakusahan nila na circus ang hearing, pero sila ang pumipilit to send clowns (Why should we allow these spokesmen to speak when they have nothing of value to say towards the investigation other than to lambast the committee? We will not allow them to ruin [the proceedings] and turn these into a political circus. They [Binay’s camp] make accusation that the hearing is a circus, but they are the ones who insist to send clowns.),” Cayetano said.
The Senator stressed that instead of sending spokesmen to the proceedings, the Vice President should submit evidence.