TG Guingona: Still no word from VP Binay on Blue Ribbon invitation

Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, on Tuesday said the panel had yet to receive a reply from Vice President Jejomar Binay on whether he would attend the Senate probe on various allegations against his family including the allegedly overpriced construction of Makati City Hall Building II.

 

In live phonepatch interview with GMA News TV's “News To Go”, Guingona said that as of Tuesday morning, the Blue Ribbon Committee had yet to receive a reply to the letter inviting Binay to attend the hearing on Thursday.

 

“I was hoping na kahapon sana may reply na dahil first day of the week. I hope that by the end of this day magkaroon na tayo ng official response from the Vice President,” Guingona said.

 

Guingona said that though they cannot legally compel Binay to attend the hearing, missing the probe is a lost opportunity for the latter to explain his side.

 

“Kung sakaling di siya dumalo, sayang. Pagkakataon sana na makapagpahayag siya ng sarili niyang panig,” Guingona said.

 

“We already said we will give him patas na trato, sapat na oras para magsalita at kaukulang respeto. So, kung hindi siya dadalo ay sayang talaga,” he added.

 

On Wednesday last week a letter of invitation signed by Guingona was sent to to Binay's office.

 

Guingona refused to comment on whether Binay's allies lawyer Jose Virgilio “JV” Bautista and Navotas City Rep. Tobias “Toby” Tiangco, interim secretary general of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) will be allowed to participate at the next hearing if they can present a letter from Binay authorizing them to speak on his behalf.

 

“Ayoko mag comment diyan sapagkat gusto ko makatanggap ng opisyal na sagot galing sa opisina ni Bise Presidente. Iba ang press release, iba ang tsismis, iba ang galing mismo sa opisina ni Vice President,” Guingona said.

 

Tension arose at last week's hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee after Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano questioned the presence Bautista and Tiangco at the venue of the hearing and instructed the Senate sergeant at arms to bring the two out of the session hall. —NB, GMA News