Representative Magsaysay hits LP for challenging Binay loyalty

MANILA, Philippines—Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay on Wednesday scored the Liberal Party for vilifying Vice President Jejomar Binay and making him choose between President Aquino and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo after Binay’s coalition for the 2013 midterm elections, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), invited allies of Arroyo and critics of the administration to join its initial senatorial lineup.

UNA is a coalition between Binay’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and deposed President Joseph Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

“Why must the loyalty of Vice President Binay to the administration be questioned because he has invited critics of the administration to his coalition?” Magsaysay said. “They should look into the merits of the credentials rather than persecute the Vice President and paint him in a bad light. It is not wrong to form a strong lineup based on performance.”

She said that the LP should respect Binay’s decision-making, specifically so because he belongs to another party and has never interfered in party matters and party decisions of the LP.

Magsaysay also said Binay had never criticized LP’s active recruitment of the former administration’s allies from the Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

“Why must he be held accountable for his choices now when they have been recruiting from Lakas since they assumed office in 2010?” she asked.

Magsaysay, deputy minority leader in the House of Representatives, was among those earlier invited to join the UNA senatorial slate.

Known as a staunch critic of the Aquino administration, Magsaysay said her pork barrel has been withheld because of her decision for not toeing the line with regards administration policies, which she believed were abusive.

Saying she does not criticize for the sake of criticism, Magsaysay said she commented on important issues affecting the people like taxes, corruption, and their human rights and offered suggestions to find solutions.

“It is not my problem that the administration is onion skinned and refuses to address the plight of the people,” she said. “In terms of anti-corruption initiatives, I have been fully supportive of the efforts of this administration. My stand has always been go after those who have wronged the country but don’t be selective. Justice must be served to all.”

Magsaysay, likewise, said the Vice President had performed his duties based on the President’s orders.

“Because of speculation about the alliance he is forming, he is being vilified? That is not fair,” she said.