UNA: LP was first to hit us with ‘crabby personal attacks’

MANILA, Philippines – United Nationalist Alliance secretary general and Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco on Tuesday said that the “LP (Liberal Party) should not start what it can’t finish,” pertaining to UNA and LP’s hurling of personal attacks against each other.

He made this statement following a call from Liberal Party (LP) spokesperson and Marikina Representative Miro Quimbo for the “constructive opposition” to bare its platform instead of resorting to personal attacks against the ruling coalition.

Quimbo recently reacted to Tiangco’s allegations that the Marikina legislator issued fraudulent loans when he was still the head of the Pag-Ibig Fund.

But the UNA official insisted that they were being “platform- and issue-oriented” in criticizing the Aquino administration and maintained that the Vice-President-led coalition would not allow “below-the-belt” criticisms.

“They fired the first shot by hurling a malicious and false accusation against VP Binay who is not even a candidate. But when they are asked to account for their government record, they cry black propaganda,” said Tiangco.

He added that “UNA has always been issue-oriented. Our TV ad raised a valid issue—while the country may have posted an economic growth, we still have the glaring issues of poverty, hunger and unemployment which our candidates tackled based on their advocacies and programs.”

Tiangco said that it was the LP which first hit at UNA with “crabby personal attacks.”

“We find it peculiar that corruption and political histories are sensitive issues with the LP, particularly those that are obviously staring at their faces. These are valid issues that needed to be squarely and directly answered,” reacted Tiangco, who insisted that their criticisms were valid.

“Graft is a legitimate issue. Miro Quimbo is a friend but he is evading the issue. The fact is that the DOJ recommended the filing of charges against him and other Pag-IBIG officials to the Ombudsman. What happened to the recommendation? Natutulog ba ang kaso sa Ombudsman dahil kaalyado siya? (Is it gathering dust at the Ombudsman because he’s an ally?)” asked the UNA official.

Tiangco said the LP spokesman chose to speak of his accomplishments rather than explain what happened to the P7-billion loan extended by Pag-IBIG to Globe Asiatique.

“If he has nothing to hide, I think it’s best for him to tell what he really knows so he can help bring those responsible to justice. Matutuwa sa kanya ang mga biktima ng scam ni Delfin Lee at ang milyun-milyong miyembro ng Pag-IBIG kapag ginawa nya ‘yun (The victims of Delfin Lee and millions of PagIbig members will be glad if he would do that),” Tiangco said.