Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay expressed confusion over the statements made by Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano in connection with the construction of the New Senate Building (NSB), specifically the P23 billion amount which according to her, is false.

"Unang-una mali yung 23. Saan galing yang 23? Yan ang gusto ko itanong kay Senator Alan, kung saan mo ba nakuha yang 23 (First of all, that 23 [billion] is false. Where did that came from? That's what I want to ask Senator Alan, where did you get that 23)," Binay said in a radio interview over Teleradyo on Friday, June 14.

Binay was formerly the head of the Senate Accounts Committee which is currently held now by Cayetano.

It was Escudero who mentioned that there is a need to review the NSB after learning that the expenses needed for its construction ballooned to P23 billion during a flag-raising ceremony last Monday, June 10.

Escudero expressed shock and disbelief at the unexpectedly high projected costs needed to complete the new Senate building, noting that these expenses are particularly hard to accept given the economic crisis most Filipinos face.

He mentioned that the NSB was initially budgeted at P8.9 billion and revealed that the cost of the project has now ballooned to P13 billion, with an additional P10 billion required for completion, bringing the total to P23 billion.

"Maling mali po ang statements na sinasabi na from (P)8.9 to 23 (billion). Pinapalabas ho nila na ang amount na 8.9. tapos na ang building (The statement that total amount of construction grew from P8.9 to P23 billion. They're making it appear that just for P8.9 billion, the building is already complete)," she said.

She then referred to a speech by former senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson who initiated the project, who stated that the initial amount does not yet include the building's interior. She also mentioned that Escudero was among the senators who approved the project when it was initiated.

"Naguguluhan ako sa kanilang dalawa kasi Monday nag-announce si SP stop construction. Tapos Tuesday or Wednesday nag-announce si Sen. Alan Cayetano na hindi, tuloy ang Phase 1 and Phase 2. Pero ang Phase 3 hinto, eh gusto ko sabihan, anong ipapahinto niyo sa Phase 3 e wala pa nsisimulan doon. Everything is on the drawing table pa lang (I'm confused with two of them because on Monday SP [Senate President] announced to stop construction. Then Tuesday or Wednesday, Sen. Alan Cayetano announced that Phase 1 and Phase 2 will continue. But Phase 3 will stop, yet I wanted to ask him, how will you stop Phase 3 when it has not even started yet? Everything is still on the drawing table)," she said.

Two days after Escudero's announcement, Cayetano said in a Facebook Live that the construction of the current phase of NSB should continue during the review process, and the third phase, which has not yet undergone procurement, may be delayed if necessary.

Cayetano said a series of briefings with relevant stakeholders, including teams from former Senate Accounts Committee chairpersons such as Binay and Lacson were conducted to provide a "clear view" on the matter.

This resulted in an executive summary of the initial review and recommendations which were presented to Escudero.

"Hindi po ito haka-haka, lahat po ito ay official. May mga reports at may documents (These are not rumors, these are all official. There are reports and documents)," Cayetano said.

Meanwhile, Binay said that since the change of the Senate leadership under Escudero, there has not been a proper turnover from her to Cayetano and they have not talked yet. While she agrees with the review, according to Binay, what she does not like is their exchange in the media.

"Ako na siguro yung mag-imbita at pag-usapan namin and in the interest of transparency, invite namin yung media para once and for all alam na nila yung mga dapat linawin pagdating sa Senate building (I guess I should be the one to invite him so we can talk about this in the interest of transparency, invite the media so once and for all they can clarify everything that's related to the Senate building)," she added.