Former Sen. Jamby Madrigal. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Team PNoy senatorial candidate and former Senator Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal branded Nancy Binay an “elitist” for crying harassment after her mother was initially prevented from leaving for the Vatican last Monday.
“She should not demand special treatment and privileges for her mother, just because she is the wife of the Vice President. No one is above the law,” Madrigal said in a statement on Thursday.
“For one who wants to become a lawmaker, she should be the last to say that,” she said of Nancy, who is running for a Senate seat in the upcoming elections.
“Just because she is the wife of the Vice President, why should she be given special privileges? This smacks of elitism on the part of Nancy Binay. Sobra naman siyang elitista,” the former senator added.
Binay’s mother, Elenita, was prevented from leaving the country supposedly because of a hold departure order (HDO) against her in connection with a criminal case before the Sandiganbayan.
But Madrigal said Nancy, daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, has no right to cry harassment or talk about alleged demolition jobs since the HDO against her mother has legal ground.
“The immigration people are just implementing the law. Mrs. Binay has pending graft cases from alleged bidding anomalies in the purchase of fixtures and furniture for the Makati City hall during her term as Makati mayor. How can Nancy say it’s harassment?” she asked.
The former senator also questioned the authority of the Department of Justice to allow her to leave when it was the Sandiganbayan who has the sole authority to lift such orders.
Only the Sandiganbayan, Madrigal said, has the authority to lift a hold departure order on a respondent of a graft case.
“Perhaps, Secretary De Lima should explain whether she exceeded her authority when she got herself involved in a judicial matter overruling a hold departure order of the Sandiganbayan,” she said, referring to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.