It’s survey time! Binay camp expects more attacks on VP

Vice President Jejomar Binay is bracing for a fresh round of accusations to coincide with upcoming presidential surveys.

Binay’s spokesman Rico Quicho said in a statement on Sunday the timing and leakage of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) report of suspected illegal activities reflected in 242 bank accounts and financial transactions of Binay, his family and associates was “highly suspect.”

The Court of Appeals last week granted an ex parte petition of the AMLC to freeze the accounts for six months.

Quicho said the AMLC move showed a pattern where the Vice President’s detractors would hurl “exaggerated takes and lies” against him to pull down Binay from his ranking at the top of presidential preference surveys.

“As we enter the survey season, we expect within the next few weeks the National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice to resurrect the Rosario property despite clear statement and evidence showing Tony Tiu’s company as its owner,” Quicho said.

He referred to the sprawling estate in Batangas province said to be owned by the Vice President, who is seeking the presidency in next year’s elections.

Quicho said he also expected the Office of the Ombudsman “to press its obsession” to suspend Makati City Vice Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay in connection with the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Building II “despite the clear absence of factual and legal basis.”

He said Binay was “steadfast to protect his rights under the rule of law and pursue actions to vindicate the wrong done” to him.

In a radio interview yesterday, Sen. Nancy Binay declined comment on the AMLC report, saying the family had not read it.

She said her father’s political opponent, former Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, leaked the AMLC report.

“Even the AMLC had not said the report came from them,” the senator said. “And who is Mercado?”

Citing confidentiality of AMLC activities, Senator Binay repeated earlier charges that the Liberal Party was behind the controversial bank accounts issue.

Asked if she thought President Aquino was behind the AMLC campaign, she said: “I hope our past relationship would prevail. We have said repeatedly that the ties between the Aquinos and the Binays go beyond politics. I hope the President has nothing to do with this.”