TENSIONS are mounting in the Senate as Senator Nancy Binay questions the motives behind Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s investigation into the new Senate building.
Binay suspects political motivations may be at play.
“You know, at first, I didn’t want to think there was such an angle, but as time goes by, it seems we keep returning to the Taguig-Makati issue,’’ Sen. Nancy Binay former Chair, Committee on Accounts said.
Senator Nancy Binay is dismayed over Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s impending investigation into the construction of the new Senate building in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
The Senate inquiry, set for Wednesday, July 3, aims to scrutinize the significant increase in the project budget, which ballooned from eight billion pesos to 23 billion pesos.
In a press conference, Binay stated that there wouldn’t have been a need for an investigation if there had been a proper transition and turnover of responsibilities.
Binay noted that she has not yet spoken with Cayetano.
Binay was recently replaced by Cayetano as the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Accounts, the committee responsible for overseeing the project.
‘’The system is, when you are appointed to a new position, you call your staff, you call your people, and you introduce yourself. It could have been done, right? Before conducting the hearing, he could have introduced himself and asked the people. You, Director from DPWH, what is your function in the building? You, what is your job? He hasn’t done that yet,’’ she said.
Due to not following customary procedures, Binay questioned Cayetano’s true intentions in calling for the hearing.
Cayetano had previously stated that the hearing was called because the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) did not submit the documents he requested.
“We have reached out numerous times to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) since June 14, 2024, for the submission of all project-related documents, but all our communication has fallen on deaf ears,” Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said.
However, Binay recalled Cayetano’s 2015 investigation into the controversial Makati City Hall parking building II, which involved 24 Senate hearings.
‘’He used the Senate hearing because of the Taguig-Makati issue. Same senator, there’s a building, and there’s a hearing, right? There are three components already,’’ Sen. Binay added.
