Cayetano: 2016 is Binay's ticket out of jail

MANILA, Philippines — Winning the presidential seat in 2016 will be Vice President Jejomar Binay's way to skip jail, one of his staunchest critics said.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano claimed that Binay, who is hounded with corruption allegations, may have once hoped to become president for the sake of it, but may also eventually use it to "escape."

"Nakikita ni Vice President Binay ang 2016 as his 'Get Out of Jail' card. Tinitignan niya ang great escape niya, and pagiging president," Cayetano said Friday in a press conference.

"Pero ngayon nakikita niya ito rin ang pagtakas niya sa hustisya kasi ang bibigat na ng mga ebidensya at yung sinasabi niya na sa media at sa tao siya magpapaliwanag eh bakit ayaw niyang magpaliwanag?" he added.

Cayetano, a member of the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee investigating the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall II parking building, accused Binay of embezzlement and ill-gotten assets.

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He reiterated his opinion that the former Makati City mayor, currently the front runner in presidential polls, will be a "bad president."

"He will be worse than GMA [Gloria Macapagal Arroyo], dahil at least si GMA, in one sense or the the other, sinasagot yung ibang issues. Hindi sinasabing politika lang 'yun," Cayetano said, referring to Binay's refusal to participate in the Senate investigation.

He also cast doubt on the ownership claims of businessman Antonio Tiu over a 350-hectare property in Rosario, Batangas, which critics claim to belong to the Binay family.

Tiu only presented a one-page memorandum of agreement to the Senate panel in hopes of proving his rights over the property, denying he is Binay's dummy.

"Kung titingnan mo bahay ni Mr. Tiu or lahat ng iba't iba niya ari-arian, tingin niyo walang deed of sale yun? Tingin niyo MOA lang yun na walang notaryo?" Cayetano said.

Binay is facing a plunder complaint filed by lawyer Renato Bondal, one of his former political opponents in Makati, before the Office of the Ombudsman.