It’s ‘answered prayer,’ says Nancy Binay

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Nancy Binay said she is relieved that her father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, backed out of the debate with Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

“This is an answered prayer and a welcome relief for the family, although we expect that our detractors will continue to gloat [over] the situation,” she said in a statement on Tuesday, November 11.

“In the light of early attempts to set the stage for the upcoming event as unfavorably biased for Vice President Jejomar Binay, we respect the Vice President’s decision to beg off from the scheduled debate,” she added.

Senator Binay was against the debate from the time it was proposed. “Medyo hindi rin ako sang-ayon sa debate. Sa unang statement ko nga (I’m not in favor of the debate. Like I said in my first statement), why should he stoop down to the level of Senator Trillanes?” she told reporters on Monday. (READ: Nancy Binay: VP ‘real underdog’ in debate with Trillanes)

Trillanes is among 3 senators leading a probe into allegedly overpriced infrastructure projects that Binay initiated when he was mayor of Makati City.

Saying he’s been prejudged, Binay refused to attend the subcommittee hearings. His camp later challenged Trillanes to a one-on-one debate, which Trillanes accepted.

The Vice President also snubbed the invitation of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee to answer allegations raised in the subcommittee. – Carmela Fonbuena/Rappler.com