Sen. Nancy Binay thinks Limlingan, Baloloy to surface at ‘right time’

Senator Nancy Binay has ruled out the Senate as the venue for two of her father’s trusted aides, Gerardo Limlingan and Eduviges Baloloy, to air their side regarding the allegations directed at them even as her colleague, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, is bent on recommending that they be cited in contempt.

 

In an interview aired over dzBB Sunday, Binay said she thinks Limlingan and Baloloy will show up and explain “at the right time.”

 

“I think at the right time lalabas sila (Limlingan and Baloloy) kasi at this point, for us, hindi ang Senado ang proper forum to address all the issues,” she said.

 

The senator, whose family is at the center of corruption controversies being investigated by the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee over the last few months, lamented how the chamber has been used for politics lately.

 

“‘Yun ang hirap eh. Magbabato sila ng akusasyon pero wala silang ebidensya. Tapos ‘yung inaakusahan nila gusto nila ‘yun ang maglabas ng evidence to dispute the allegations,” she said.

 

Limlingan, the vice president’s longtime financial officer, and Baloloy, his personal secretary, are among the 19 individuals whom the subcommittee have recommended to be cited in contempt for their repeated defiance of the subpoenas sent to them to attend the hearings on the alleged anomalies involving Vice President Jejomar Binay.

 

The Senate blue ribbon committee is set to meet Monday to discuss the subpanel’s recommendation.

 

Aside from their alleged involvement in the elder Binay’s questionable dealings, Limlingan and Baloloy were also named in the report released by the Anti-Money Laundering Council as owners of several bank accounts which received huge deposits, and transferred large sums of US dollars to banks in Canada from 2008 to 2014.

The Court of Appeals has frozen 242 bank accounts and insurance policies belonging to Vice President Binay, some members of his family and close associates such as Limlingan and Baloloy, who are suspected of being his dummies.

 

Who is Limlingan?

 

In a separate radio interview, Pimentel,  chairman of the subcommittee, stressed the importance of enforcing disciplinary actions on the individuals who have repeatedly snubbed the blue ribbon subcommittee’s hearings.

 

“Importante kasi na ang processes ng Senado, ma-enforce natin. Pagdating naman sa Senado, kahit humarap sila ay mayroon pa rin naman silang constitutional rights, at rerespetuhin natin ‘yun,” he said. 

 

Should the committee members vote in favor of Pimentel’s recommendation, the personalities will be ordered arrested with the purpose of bringing them to the Senate to attend the hearing, he added. 

 

With the Senate sergeant-at-arms having a hard time finding Limlingan even with the Philippine National Police’s help, Pimentel said he can’t help but wonder about the real identity of the Vice President’s trusted aide.

 

Limlingan has been listed as a consultant of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chaired by Binay, and a member of the board of regents of the University of Makati, among other positions.

 

“Paano siya naa-appoint sa mga ganitong trusteeships gayong ang hirap-hirap niyang makita? What kind of a person is this? Ano ba ‘to? Legitimate businessman ba ito?” he asked.

 

The senator, however, has admitted seeing Limlingan when he was still close to the Binays. It is Baloloy, he said, whom he has not met yet. —Xianne Arcangel/KG, GMA News