Birthday boy Alan Cayetano gets a hug from Nancy Binay

MANILA, Philippines – In a gesture that grabbed the attention of the entire Senate Session Hall, Senator Nancy Binay on Tuesday, October 28, wished one of his father’s fiercest critics – and rumored potential foe in 2016 – a happy birthday. 

An official Senate photo shows Senator Binay holding hands with Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano after the former greeted him on his birthday and prepared to give him a buss on the cheek.

Senators, along with their staffmembers and guests in the gallery, looked on with amusement. Senator Binay is the daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, who has become the primary subject of a Senate probe that Cayetano is actively involved in.

Cayetano later took the podium to thank Binay for her birthday wishes. He noted that she made the gesture even if they’re at opposite sides of the political fence. 

Cayetano is among those leading the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee probe into the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall II Parking Building, a project that the Vice President started when he was still mayor of Makati City.

The Senate probe has branched into other corruption allegations against the Binay family which the Vice President, in a conversation with President Benigno Aquino III, said had deeply hurt his wife, former Makati mayor Elenita Binay. (READ: Stop DOJ probe into Binay? ‘We talked about it’ – Aquino)

Senator Binay and her father have skipped the hearings which they allege to be politically motivated. – Rappler.com