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MANILA - Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago gave a tongue-lashing to Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Speaking at a real estate convention on Friday, Santiago reiterated her call for the vice president to face the Senate blue ribbon sub-committee which is investigating alleged corruption in Makati.
Santiago said Binay should attend the Senate probe to respond to the allegations of his former ally, ex-Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado.
"Totoo ba itong mga pagbibintang na ito ng former vice mayor ng Makati laban sa dati niyang mayor na dati niyang kasama sa pulitika? Tama ba ito? Totoo ba ito?"
"May dala siyang videos which are accepted evidence, meron siyang mga documents. So he complies with the requirement of the rules of evidence," she said.
During the blue ribbon sub-committee hearing last Wednesday, Mercado alleged that Binay owns a sprawling mansion in Tagaytay and a 350-hectare estate in Rosario, Batangas.
The Batangas property, he said, is equivalent to "six Luneta Parks, 10 Araneta Centers or even half the city of San Juan."
Following the new allegations against the vice president, the sub-committee has again invited Binay to testify in the next hearing.
Binay, however, stressed that he "will not give dignity" to his accusers as well as the senators who have been conducting the hearings, which, he said, are politically motivated.
"Dadalo ka ba sa naninirang puring mga testigo? Dadalo ka ba sa bagay na hindi na dapat kasama pag-usapan? Dadalo ka ba doon kung nasagot na yung dapat pag-usapan? Pang-apat, dadalo ka pa ba doon kung alam mo na kung saan tutungo ang kanilang gagawin? I won't give dignity to them," he said.
But according to Santiago, if Binay wants to prove that the allegations against him are false, he should face his accusers in the Senate.
She said Binay has nothing to fear since resource persons in congressional hearings have rights that should be respected by lawmakers.
"Ngayon ang sabi lang ng vice president, 'Hindi ako pupunta dahil walang katotohanan ang sinasabi niya.' Ganun ba ang attitude ng tao na nasiraan?" she said.
"Pag siniraan ka ng tao, hindi ba gusto mo suntukin mo na kaagad? Susugurin mo na? At saka ibibigkas mo na sa buong daigdig kung ano talaga ang katotohanan? Bakit ayaw lumabas yan doon?" Santiago said.
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