BINAY MULLS FILING ETHICS COMPLAINT VS CAYETANO

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Nancy Binay said she would consult her lawyers to whether she would file a complaint against Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano before the Senate Committee on Ethics for his "ungentlemanly conduct" toward her during a public hearing.

The two senators had a heated argument on Wednesday during the Senate inquiry, led by Cayetano, on the increased cost in the construction of the new Senate building (NSB) in Taguig City.

Binay said Cayetano insulted her during the hearing which she claimed he conducted for political purposes: to go after the Binays once again.

Binay slammed Cayetano for calling her names such as "nabuang" (gone crazy) and "Marites" -- a street lingo which means "gossipy" or "nosy."

"I would consult first with my staff on what appropriate action to take," Binay said in a statement in Filipino and English.

"I haven't read the whole transcript (of the public hearing) and our legal team will study it first. I'll let you know if we decide to elevate it to the ethics committee," she said.

Sen. Francis Tolentino heads the Ethics committee.

"Pero kung ganyan s'ya manghamon ng away sa isang babae (If that's the way he picks a fight with a woman), I guess, we just have to manage our expectations from this senator," Binay said.

She added, "Actually, I'm okay if Sen[ator] does not feel like apologizing for insulting [me] yesterday during the hearing. We don't expect him to behave as such considering that he is among the most senior senators."

"So, his actuation is very unbecoming of a senator. I accept that that is his behavior if your surname is 'Binay,'" she added.

Cayetano conducted the investigation as chairman of the Senate Committee on Accounts overseeing the expenses of the Senate.

He succeeded Binay as accounts panel head after a coup that replaced Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri as Senate president and installed Sen. Francis Escudero as his successor.

2024-07-04T07:03:14Z dg43tfdfdgfd