Nancy Binay mulls ethics complaint vs. Alan Cayetano over remarks

Senator Nancy Binay is mulling raising Senator Alan Cayetano's remarks against her during the hearing on the New Senate Building (NSB) before the Ethics Committee.

In a statement, Binay, who walked out from the Cayetano-led Committee on Accounts hearing, said she is consulting her staff on the appropriate action to take against her colleague.

"Di ko pa nababasa ang buong transcript at pag-aaralan pa ng legal team namin. I'll let you know kung mag-decide kaming i-elevate sa Ethics Committee," she said.

(I have yet to read the whole transcript and our legal team will study it as well. I'll let you know if we decide to elevate that to the Ethics Committee.)

The Senate ethics and privileges committee is mandated to discuss all matters relating to the conduct, rights, privileges, safety, dignity, integrity and reputation of the Senate and its members.

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, who concurrently chairs the Ethics panel, said he will deal with the complaint if it will be referred to the committee.

Tolentino, who was present at the early part of the hearing on NSB said he "regret[s]" leaving the inquiry early because he had to meet with his visitors on the same day.

"Di sana nangyari 'yon (It should not have happened)," Tolentino said in a statement.

In a separate text message to reporters, Tolentino said he would have asked to suspend the hearing during the heated exchange between Cayetano and Binay and he "would have moved to delete unparliamentary remarks" from the Senate records.

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, who walked out from the hearing, 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.

After Cayetano called her "marites," a popular term among Filipinos for rumor-mongerer, among his other remarks, Binay said she "does not feel" that her colleague would apologize to her for "disrespecting" her during the hearing.

"We dont expect him to behave as such considering that he is among the most senior senators--so, yung asal n'ya is very unbecoming of a senator. Tanggap ko nang ganoon ang ugali niya, basta apelyido mo'y Binay (I've already expected him to show that attitude to those whose surname is Binay)," she said.

GMA News Online sought Cayetano's comment on the statement of Binay but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time.—AOL, GMA Integrated News