Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco dared Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice to urge members of the majority to evict United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) lawmakers from the Liberal Party-led bloc.
In his privilege speech on Wednesday, Tiangco said Erice should file a resolution urging the majority members to vote to evict UNA stalwarts from the group.
“Ang hamon ko sa congressman ng Caloocan, ang pinakamabuti niyang gawin para malaman at magkaalaman na ang mga miyembro ng UNA, gusto pa ng mayorya na makasama pa nila uli, ay magpasa siya ng resolusyon na tinatanggal ang mga kasama ko sa UNA at tingnan natin ilan po ang kaya niyang papirmahin,” Tiangco said.
“Let us put our money where our mouth is,” he added.
UNA members who are part of the majority are Makati Representatives Abigail Binay and Monique Lagdameo; Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting; Iloilo Rep. Hernan Biron Jr.; Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones; Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia; Baguio Rep. Nicasio Aliping; Agri Rep. Delphine Lee; and 1BAP Rep. Silvestre Bello.
Tiangco made the statement after Erice scored UNA for claiming the Liberal Party is behind the alleged “white paper” which accused Rep. Abigail Binay of being involved in the pork barrel scam.
The white paper alleged that Rep. Binay’s pork barrel was used to pay for political rallies and bused-in crowds from 2007 to 2009 , and that there were supposed irregularities in vermiculture projects from her PDAF from 2010 and 2011.
According to the paper, from 2008 to 2009 the lawmaker allotted a total of P12.6 million in PDAF to Kasanib Foundation, a nongovernment organization (NGO) founded by her father Vice President Jejomar Binay.
She was also accused of funneling P12 million to the National Livelihood Development Center, a government corporation embroiled in the P10-billion pork barrel scam.
The amount was for the “implementation of livelihood projects (vermiculture/composting training with backyard vegetables and herbs gardening),” the white paper said.
The white paper also said in 2010, Rep. Binay allocated P15 million to Gabay at Pag-asa ng Masa Foundation for livelihood projects of her constituents in the second district.
Abigail’s brother, Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Jun-Jun” Binay, supposedly received the fund on behalf of the city government through a city resolution.
Rep. Binay has denied the allegations. She said the paper forms part of the smear campaign against his father, who has expressed his intention to run as president.
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