Cayetano: Binay will be worse than Arroyo

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Alan Cayetano on Tuesday slammed Vice President Jejomar Binay and his family for acting like untouchable government officials.

In an interview with ANC's Headstart, Cayetano criticized Binay for believing that he has immunity from investigation and lawsuit because he is the vice president.

Cayetano also expressed fear that Binay will jail all those investigating him if he becomes president in 2016.

"At the evidence right now, he'll be worse than GMA. Ngayon pa lang, hindi pa siya presidente... ni ayaw magpaimbestiga," Cayetano told program host Karen Davila.

Cayetano said the Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-committee investigating Binay would recommend charges against him if he fails to present evidence and refute the corruption allegations.

He believes that Binay can be investigated by the Department of Justice and be charged.

"He can be sued, tried and convicted even without an impeachment," Cayetano said.

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Cayetano, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado have accused Binay of pocketing public funds as kickbacks from various projects in Makati including an allegedly overpriced parking building.

Binay is also allegedly the real owner of a 350-hectare agricultural estate in Rosario, Batangas, which has become the subject of the Senate probe.

Although he has yet to face the Senate, Binay has denied all allegations and criticized the Blue Ribbon Sub-committee probe for being "politically motivated."

Last week, Binay said those investigating him at the Senate are threatened by his presidential bid because they may be held liable for their own offenses if he wins in 2016.

"Those investigating me are simply there because as they admitted they do not want me to even launch a presidential campaign, obviously fearing that should the people support me they would be made accountable for their misdeeds and abuse of power," Binay said.

Binay has also criticized the Aquino administration's "selective justice" and the Department of Justice (DOJ) for initiating an investigation on him.

"The DOJ clearly has no jurisdiction to conduct an investigation over any impeachable official. That power belongs exclusively to the Ombudsman," Binay said in a previous statement.

He said Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, who belongs to the executive department, cannot investigate her superiors, the president and the vice president.