Press Release
March 5, 2014

Justice before Politics
Cayetano to Binay: Issue definitive statement
vs. allies tagged in pork barrel scam

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter "Companero" S. Cayetano yesterday challenged Vice President Jejomar Binay to show moral toughness and issue a definitive statement on the alleged participation of his closest political allies in the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

"Pakiusap kay VP, make a very, very strong statement. Na 'kahit kakampi ko iyan, sagutin ninyo [ang ibinibintang sa inyo].' If he thinks they are innocent, then say so. Pero ano ang nakikita ninyo? Wala pa tayong nakikita eh," Cayetano said.

The senator denied suggestions from the Binay camp that his proposal for the Supreme Court to designate special criminal courts for high-profile cases and heinous crimes is mere politicking, saying that the Vice President's statements have really caused fears among the whistleblowers and state witnesses in the pork scam.

"He should not use the standard [line] 'pinupulitika kasi, The Filipino people and the justice system deserve to insulate high-profile cases from politics."

Cayetano, in earlier interviews, said he was glad that some senators tagged in the controversy have already made public statements denying their involvement in the pork barrel scam.

He said Binay's statements, on the other hand, only tend to weaken the case being prepared by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against those involved in the scandal and undermines the entire campaign of the government to stamp out corruption.

Binay had earlier described Ruby Tuason's testimony as a "dud," and described the DOJ's case against his political allies as "trial by publicity."

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