Junjun Binay snubs Senate subpoena, questions subcommittee’s jurisdiction

Makati Mayor Junjun Binay challenged the jurisdiction of the Senate subcommittee conducting a hearing on the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building 2. He also said that it is his right not to attend the hearing despite a subpoena issued by the Senate.

Rejecting the Senate’s invitation

“Nagdesisyon po ako na panahon na para liwanagin at kuwestiyunin ang hurisdiksyon ng subcommittee at ng blue ribbon committee mismo. May inihanda po akong liham o mosyon kung saan aking hinahamon ang hurisdiksyon ng subcommitee at committee.  Naaayon ito sa patakaran ng senado at sa aking karapatan bilang mamamayan. Hanggang maresolba ang isyung ito, karapatan kong pansamaantalang hindi dumalo sa pagdinig sa senado,” said Binay just hours before the probe.

The Makati mayor added that some members of the subcommittee have already prejudged him and his family. He also reiterated that how senators intimidated the some witnesses. Binay also criticized why some senators seemed biases with witnesses who were attacking them.

He stated, “Ang tunay na pakay ng pag-iimbestiga ay ang Makati City Hall Building 2. Ngunit lumihis ang usapan at nauwi sa napakaraming isyu na walang kinalaman sa intensyon ng resolusyon gaya ng cake at ang buong budget na ng lungsod ng Makati.”

Challenge to senators

Binay then revealed that he has sent a letter to the Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee challenging the jurisdictional authority of the panel to summon him to the hearing.

“Aking hinahamon ang hurisdiksyon ng sub-committee at Blue Ribbon. Naaayon po ito sa patakaran ng Senado at sa aking karapatan bilang isang mamamayan. Hanggang maresolba ang isyu na ito, karapatan ko po na pansamantalang hindi dumalo sa pagdinig sa Senado,” he said.

He also added, “Bilang mayor ng Makati, marami pa akong tungkulin na dapat kong gampanan. Magtatrabaho po ako dahil yan ang inaasahan sa akin.”

Senators respond to Binay’s challenge

Senators have rejected the jurisdictional challenge of Mayor Binay.

Sen. Koko Pimentel said that under the Senate rules, the committee on public accountability has jurisdiction on all matters relating to “malfeasance, misfeasance and non-feasance in office of all public officers and employees of government, its branches, agencies, sub-divisions and instrumentalities.”

“It is the opinion of the members of the sub-committee that the subject matter…clearly falls under the jurisdiction of the Blue Ribbon Committee,” he said.

He said the next hearing of the Senate hearing will be at 10 a.m on October 2, .

“We will accept no excuses. Let the subpoenas be re-issued for Ms. Ebeng Baloloy, Mayor Junjun Binay, Mr. Gerry Limlingan and all the others,” he said.

Baloloy is the secretary to the Mayor Binay, while Limlingan allegedly works for Vice President Jejomar Binay.