Palace passes query to Binay: Will you emulate Drilon?

MANILA, Philippines - Should Vice President Jejomar Binay follow the example set by Senate President Franklin Drilon?

Malacañang on Friday passed this question to Binay, who declined to attend last week's Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the corruption allegations against him.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda praised Drilon for attending yesterday's Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the allegedly overpriced Iloilo Convention Center, one of his pet projects.

Lacierda said Drilon "certainly set a good example" for facing the Senate probe, for inhibiting from asking questions to the resource persons and for responding to the queries posed on him by his fellow senators.

"Whether it would be good for the Vice President to emulate that, I think we will leave it with the Vice President to decide whether he should follow the example of Senate President Frank Drilon," Lacierda said.

Binay is being investigated by a Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee over allegations that he amassed kickbacks from Makati projects, including a costly parking building.

After branding the Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee conducting the probe as a "kangaroo court," Binay's camp said he will only attend a hearing held by the mother committee and upon its invitation.

Binay's camp has reportedly set another condition for his possible attendance: Senators Antonio Trillanes IV, Alan Cayetano and Aquilino Pimentel III should inhibit from the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.

The said officials, however, cannot be ordered to inhibit from the proceedings, according to Drilon.

"'Yung pag-aattend ay nasa senador po iyan. Walang pwedeng magdikta na ang isang senador ay mag-inhibit sa isang hearing," Drilon said in an interview over radio dzRH on Friday.

Drilon assured that Binay will be treated with fairness and respect if and when he faces the Senate probe.

"Ako mismo, ginagarantiya ko na hindi babastusin ang Pangalawang Pangulo kung siya ay haharap sa Senado," he said.

The Senate leader said it is up to Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, Blue Ribbon Committee chair, to decide if Binay should be invited to a hearing again.

Malacañang, meanwhile, refused to comment whether or not Binay's attendance would end the Senate investigation.