Palace: Binay impeachment up to Congress

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is leaving up to Congress the proposal to impeach Vice President Jejomar Binay over the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall II parking building.

"Kung ang nais na maganap ay impeachment, ang prosesong ito ay nasasakop ng tungkulin at kapangyarihan ng House of Representatives," Presidential Communication Operations Office Sec. Herminio Coloma Jr. said at a televised press briefing on Tuesday.

"Ipapaubaya na lang namin sa kanila kung ano ang nais nilang gawin dito, kung meron ngang panukala o resolusyon na ihaharap sa kanila hinggil dito," Coloma added.

The vice president and his son, Makati City Mayor Erwin Binay are facing a plunder complaint for allegedly amassing kickbacks from the construction of the costly parking building.

Two former Makati officials testified at the Senate that the Binays also benefited from other infrastructure projects and programs in the city, including the provision of free birthday cakes to senior citizens.

The elder Binay himself was accused of rigging the public biddings for infrastructure projects to favor certain companies, such as Hilmarc's Construction Corp., the contractor of the controversial parking building.

The Binays have repeatedly denied the accusations hurled against them, saying they were all "politicized" designed to malign the family.

On Monday, President Aquino denied knowing anything about the allegations against Binay, but he stressed the importance of the search for truth.

"At the end of the day, the truth will set us all free. Now, do I have knowledge as to the veracity of the accusations against the vice president? I have no personal knowledge of the same," Aquino said.