Nancy Binay says Alan Cayetano declined meeting with her, Lacson over new Senate bldg

Senator Nancy Binay on Thursday said Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has declined an invitation from former Senator Panfilo Lacson for the three of them to tackle matters related to the construction of the new Senate building.

This was disclosed by Binay a day after she and Cayetano engaged in a heated exchange during the Senate hearing on the cost of the new Senate building, which prompted her to walk out from the inquiry.

Cayetano is the current chairman of the Senate Committee on Accounts, while Binay and Lacson were former heads of the panel.

In an interview over Balitanghali, Binay reiterated that she was just waiting for Cayetano to approach her to clarify the issues he raised regarding the cost of the building but to no avail.

"I don't think gusto niya akong kausapin [after yesterday's hearing] kasi nga 'di ba paulit-ulit kong sinasabi na nag-aantay lang tayo for a proper transition na mag-usap kami," Binay said.

(I don't think he wants to talk to me after the hearing yesterday. And I will mention this again that I was just waiting for him to reach out to me for a proper transition on the leadership of the Senate Committee on Accounts.)

At this point, she mentioned that Lacson had sent Cayetano a message inviting him to a meeting among the three of them.

"In fact, si Senator Lacson nag-send na siya ng message kay Senator Alan na mag-usap kaming tatlo bilang former chairpersons ng Committee on Accounts at siya naman 'yung bago para mapag-usapan 'yung building kasi may mga bahagi doon sa building na hindi during my term, and I think the best person to explain sa kanya is Senator Lacson," she said.

"Kaya nga nilapitan natin si Senator Lacson na kung puwede mag-usap kaming tatlo at 'yun nga nag-send out siya ng message kay Senator Alan and he declined the invitation," she disclosed.

(In fact, Senator Lacson sent a message to Senator Alan so the three of us can discuss the matter as former chairpersons of the Committee on Accounts. There are details on the building construction which were not implemented or decided upon during my term and I think the best person to explain that to Senator Alan is Senator Lacson. That's why I asked Senator Lacson for that meeting but Senator Cayetano declined the invitation.)

GMA News Online has reached out to Cayetano's office to seek his comment and will publish his response once available.

Binay said should Cayetano accept the invitation, he would have been clarified on all the figures that he was questioning.

Cayetano launched the inquiry into the new Senate building after Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero ordered a review on the cost of its construction, noting that funding has already reached P23 billion.

Binay has denied that the cost has reached P23 billion but only P21 billion.

Cayetano, for his part, insisted that the cost is P23 billion as this includes the P1.6 billion spent for land acquisition. —KBK, GMA Integrated News