© Provided by ABS-CBN News l Ryan Chua
MANILA - Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago again used a speaking engagement to slam Vice President Jejomar Binay for his refusal to answer the accusations against him at the Senate, where a subcommittee is investigating reports of rigged biddings in Makati City during his term as mayor and allegations of ill-gotten wealth.
Speaking before a gathering of reproductive health advocates at the Philippine Christian University on Wednesday, Santiago said Binay was “forum shopping” when he insisted he would defend himself only at the Ombudsman.
“With all of these accusations aired on news media and particularly in the social media, the silence of Mr. Binay and his lawyer to present counter-evidence is alarming,” Santiago said in her speech.
Santiago stressed that the burden is on Binay to prove the allegations wrong, describing as a “most dramatic bombshell” the claim of former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado that Binay owns a P1.2-billion estate in Rosario, Batangas.
The place for Binay to defend himself, the senator said, is the Senate. Santiago had criticized Binay for snubbing the Senate’s investigation at a speech on Friday last week, saying his silence implies guilt.
“Unfortunately, the law does not allow Binay to just choose the forum where he shall make his defense. What is happening at the present is that while the Senate is conducting an inquiry in aid of legislation, the case is being tried before the bar of public opinion,” she said.
“It is essential, even vital, for Binay to adduce evidence on his behalf at the Senate hearing.”
The Vice President has repeatedly said he will not attend the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee’s investigation, dismissing the allegations against him as baseless and politically motivated.
His camp also accused senators investigating him and the Liberal Party of conspiring to hurt his chances of becoming president in 2016.
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