Senate Accounts Committee chair Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday,July 5,  reaffirmed the rigorous and independent nature of the ongoing review of the New Senate Building (NSB), in response to concerns raised by former Senator Panfilo Lacson about its negative public perception.

“The conduct of the NSB review is factual and independent. Hindi pwede ang suspicion, speculation, assumption, akala,” the Accounts chair said.

Cayetano gave this assurance after Lacson released a statement expressing dismay that the NSB project is now seen as a potential symbol of government misuse of funds.

Lacson’s remarks followed a recent heated exchange between Cayetano and Senator Nancy Binay, Lacson’s immediate successor as Accounts Committee chair, during a public hearing on the NSB last Wednesday, July 3.

In the hearing, Binay disputed Cayetano regarding the project’s total cost which had ballooned to P23.3 billion, a figure that Cayetano said came from Binay’s own team involved in overseeing the project.

In his statement, Lacson acknowledged the cost increase from an initial P8.9 billion to P23.3 billion, which prompted Senate President Francis Escudero to call for a thorough review.

The former senator also disclosed that he helped facilitate discussions between Cayetano and Binay to ensure a smooth transition in overseeing the project details.

During Wednesday’s public hearing, Cayetano reiterated the committee’s commitment to conducting a review aimed at ensuring the highest standards of construction at a reasonable cost.

“The goal is to have the best functional and iconic Senate building that will be a symbol of our democratic process of the will of the Filipino people, at the best quality at the right cost,”  Cayetano said.