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Senator Nancy Binay asked the Ethics Committee to impose appropriate punishment on Alan Cayetano for his “malicious accusations” against her during a July 3 hearing on the new Senate building.
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Nancy Binay filed an ethics complaint against Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday, July 8, alleging violations of Senate Rules, the Civil Code, the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability, the Magna Carta of Women, among others.
Binay’s complaint stems from a July 3 hearing at the New Senate Building, during which the two senators got into a heated argument. During the livestreamed hearing, Cayetano called Binay crazy and referred to him as “Marites,” a Filipino slang for gossipmongers.
Binay said in her complaint that Cayetano was defamed for “malicious slander” and that she allegedly tried to influence the media by asking them questions to support her narrative. She asked the Senate panel to impose appropriate punishment on Cayetano.
“This is not only about who I am as a senator, but also who I am as a mother,” Binay told reporters, recalling a 2015 Senate investigation involving her family.
“I will not allow what we went through to happen again. It’s hard to explain without the experience of being a parent. Obviously, if you’re a parent, it’s more painful when a child is hurt.” Binay added.
(I won’t put us through the same thing again. It’s hard to explain if you’re not a parent. If you’re a parent, it hurts more when your child is hurt.)
The topic between the two senators got too personal during a hearing at the New Senate Building on Wednesday, July 3, with Cayetano accusing Binay of influencing media interviews to support her own views. (READ: Cayetano’s Senate hearings on new office involve too many personal issues, Binay quits
The Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Cayetano, launched the investigation after Senate President Chis Escudero ordered a “comprehensive review” of concerns about rising construction costs for the new Senate building. Escudero said he was shocked to learn that the construction project would cost the government a large amount of money. 23 billion pesos to finish.
Binay served as chairman of the Accounts Committee, which is responsible for the budget, expenditures, audit and other financial activities of the Senate, including the new Senate building being built in Fort Bonifacio.
Binay refuted Cayetano’s claim that the cost is now 23 billion pesos, saying the actual cost is only 21.7 billion pesos. Cayetano did not believe it, insisting that the cost reached 23 billion pesos because of land acquisition.
The two exchanged insults for about 20 minutes, and during the heated argument, Cayetano even began to insult Binay, calling him a gossipmonger.
“You said this is related to the Makati-Taguig issue. You are going to say someone stabbed you in the back. What will they think? Madam, I will tell you only one thing, your name is Lourdes not Marit. Let’s fix it. It’s so shameful,” Cayetano said.
“You told us that this hearing is about the Makati-Taguig issue. You said someone is stabbing you in the back. What will they think? Ma’am, I’ll tell you one thing only, your name is Lourdes, not Marites. Let’s get this out of the way. This is so awkward.)
Binay’s full name is Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay.
The two lawmakers have sparred in the past. Cayetano led a year-long investigation into the Binay family over the Makati government’s infrastructure projects, including the allegedly overpriced construction of the Makati City Hall building.
Near the end of the heated debate between the two sides, Binay asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) if they had the P23-billion amount in their files, to which DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain replied, “No.”
“Thank you, Mr. President. I made it clear. The P23 billion does not exist,” Binay told Cayetano after the Department of Public Works and Highways responded. exist (At) the Ministry of Public Works and Highways. ” Then she walked out of the room.
“You are crazy today. Let’s end this properly. This is the Philippine Senate, not the market. (You are crazy. Let’s sort this out. This is the Senate of the Philippines, not the market),” Cayetano said as Binay walked out of the room.
The Department of Public Works and Highways said at the hearing that the project has been delayed for 852 days, or more than two years. The Senate had earlier scheduled to convene on July 22 at the New Senate Building for President Ferdinand Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address.
– Rappler.com
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