Cayetano to Binay: Face a "real" lifestyle check

"Ayoko ng peke. Gusto ko, totoo."

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter "Companero" S. Cayetano made this call yesterday as he challenged Vice President Jejomar Binay to allow himself and his family to undergo a "real" lifestyle check as opposed to merely broadcasting his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

"Sinusundan ko lang ang pahayag ni Vice President... Siya ang nagsabi na gusto niya ng lifestyle check. Pero baka ang gusto niya, lifestyle check na peke, walang mapapala ang publiko doon," he said.

In an apparent move to preempt the Blue Ribbon sub-committee's hearing on the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall parking building, Binay's lawyers released to the media copies of his financial disclosures and income tax returns for the last 28 years to show that the Vice President is open to a lifestyle check.

However, during the Senate hearing on Thursday, Cayetano stressed that he was not convinced with the Binay camp's presentation about his wealth.

"Sa SALN mo kasi, hindi mo makikita ang lifestyle. Halimbawa, nakalagay sa SALN P5 million cash. Hindi naman nilalagay sa SALN kapag kumain ka sa isang restaurant na P100,000 ang ginastos mo, kapag nag-abroad ka na P5 million ang gastos mo, o kapag ang bahay mo ay punong puno ng painting at antique," he said.

Cayetano pointed out that Binay should also have presented the SALNs of his children, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, Senator Nancy Binay, and Makati Representative Abigail Binay.

"Nasa anti-graft law po na ang titingnan ay hindi lang ang ari-arian ng isang opisyal kung hindi ang pamilya niya hanggang sa third degree affinity... Kung ang SALN ni Vice President ay naglalaro sa P60 million pero si Senator Nancy ay nasa P60 million din, you take them together. Unless mapatunayan ni Senator Nancy o ng mga anak ni VP na may income din sila separate from that to support the P60 million na yun," he said.

The senator also urged the Vice President to submit a waiver on the secrecy of his bank accounts and present his credit card bills, land titles and bank deposits in order to allow the public to properly scrutinize his records.

"Yun naman ay tugon ko lang naman sa sinabi ni Vice President na pabor siya na mag-lifestyle check. Wala naman pong public official na ilalagay lahat sa pangalan niya, meron yung ilalagay sa iba, pero ang pera magagamit pa din. At maaapektuhan ang lifestyle niya nito," Cayetano said.

"Kung tunay na lifestyle check ang gusto natin, yan po ang dapat ilabas nila," he added.