(CNN Philippines) – Senate security personnel set out on Wednesday (May 20) to arrest 12 people cited in contempt for failing to attend hearings on alleged anomalies in public projects in Makatii.
But apparently, according to Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Jose Balajadia, they had been evading arrest.
Security personnel went to the addresses provided to the Blue Ribbon Committee, whose subcommittee has been conducting hearings on anomalies in which Vice President Jejomar Binay and his son, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., had been implicated, among others.
The Chongs – alleged dummies of the vice president – were not at their house or their stores, he said. And a maid in another house said the family had been away a week.
The Chongs cited in contempt are all officers of the Meriras Realty and Development Corp. — Imee, Irish, Kim tun, Erlinda, and Kimsfer.
One of the resource persons, Balajadia added, might have given the Senate a fake address.
Balajadia said the Senate would need the help of the Philippine National Police making the arrests, the order of which Senate President Franklin Drilon signed on Tuesday (May 19).
The Senate cited in contempt 17 people. Three of them were cited in contempt in January – Ebeng Baloloy, a secretary of the vice president; Bernadette Portallano, alleged owner of Omni Security; and Makati City Engineer Line de la Peña
De la Peña, along with Makati City Hall officials Vissia Marie Aldon and Danilo Villas, had filed a motion for reconsideration.
The arrest order issued on them was suspended and they have until Monday to appear before the Senate.
Other resource persons cited in contempt include Aida Alcantara and Hirene Lopez both involved with Omni Security; Antonio Tiu, allegedly the dummy owner of the Batangas property owned by the Binays; and Gerry Limlingan, the longtime financial officer of the vice president.
