LP tells beleaguered Binays: Don’t look at us
Vice President Jejomar Binay and suspended Makati Mayor Junjun Binay
The decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to order the filing of raps against Vice President Jejomar Binay and suspended Makati Mayor Junjun Binay was a result of them snubbing all hearings in the Senate where they could have defended themselves from the corruption allegations hurled at them.
This was the Liberal Party’s reaction to the statement of the Binay camp calling the Office of the Ombudsman, led by Conchita Carpio-Morales, a “political tool” of the Aquino administration.
READ: Binay camp: Ombudsman ‘fits into orchestrated effort of LP, Roxas’
“Binigay na ang lahat ng pagkakataon sa mga Binay na ipagtanggol ang sarili nila. Eto ang resulta, at kailangan na nilang harapin ang mga kaso nila,” Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez, spokesperson of the LP’s “Daang Matuwid” coalition.
(The Binays were given the opportunity to defend themselves. This is the result (of their actions), and they have to face the complaints against them.)
Gutierrez challenged the vice president, who is running against LP’s presidential bet Mar Roxas, and his son to reveal the truth behind their alleged ill-gotten wealth.
“Mayor at VP, wala ng lusot dito. Ilabas n’yo na ang katotohanan kung ano ba talaga ang ginawa n’yo sa Makati. Kailangang bigyan ng hustisya ang paglulustay ng pera ng bayan,” he said.
(Mayor and VP, you cannot escape this. You need to reveal what you have done to Makati’s money. People are clamoring for justice after what you have done to their money.)
The Ombudsman upheld the younger Binay’s dismissal and lifetime ban from government service, recommending immediate filing of graft, falsification of public documents and malversation against him and 22 Makati City officials over the allegedly overpriced construction of the P2.2-billion Makati City Hall building II.
READ: Ombudsman orders graft, falsification, malversation raps vs Binays
It also found probable cause to charge Vice President Binay with multiple counts of graft, malversation and falsification of public documents.
But the Ombudsman said criminal charges against him will be filed when his term expires, “consistent with the principle that an impeachable officer, while in office, cannot be the subject of a criminal indictment in court, for an offense which carries the penalty of removal from office.” IDL
