Roxas twits Binay: Didn’t you want Aquino’s endorsement?
Video by Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net
DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur—Why only now?
This was what Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said regarding Vice President Jejomar Binay’s attacks against the supposed blunders of the Aquino administration, calling it insensitive and bumbling two days after the latter resigned from the Cabinet.
On the sidelines of the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) turnover of patrol jeeps to local police here on Friday, Roxas questioned why it took Binay five years before he spewed fire.
“Pumapalakpak siya doon bawat Sona (State of the Nation Address); bawat hatid-sundo ng pangulo, wala naman siyang kritisismo,” Roxas said in an interview with reporters.
(He applauded in every Sona; he did not offer criticisms toward Aquino’s actions.)
Roxas said Binay only aired his criticisms when the Vice President supposedly could no longer answer the corruption allegations being hurled against him.
“Ano ba talaga ang katotohanan—’yung kanyang pagpalakpak at pagsuporta? Three weeks ago, hinihintay niya ‘yung pag-endorso ng pangulo, ‘yun ba ang katotohanan?” Roxas said.
(So what’s the truth—his applause and support? Three weeks ago, didn’t he seek the President’s endorsement?)
READ: Binay still hoping for Aquino endorsement
The DILG secretary also said the beneficiaries of key government projects would disprove allegations by the Binay camp of the administration’s lackluster performance.
“Ano ang sasabihin natin sa 4.5 milyong taong natulungan ng (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program)?” he said.
(Just what do the 4.5 million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program have to say?)
Roxas added Binay was the one who should explain to the public the supposed inconsistencies in his statements, noting that he as DILG chief has been “focused on the work that needed to be done.”
READ: Binay accuses Aquino of giving Roxas’ DILG undue funding
“Hindi para sa amin ang mag-react sa kanya. Alam natin kung ano ang ating mga serbisyo,” he said. “Dito lang sa Digos, hindi niyo ba nakita ang mga [road] widening sabay-sabay?”
(We don’t even have to react to him. We know the services we have offered. Here in Digos, you can see the simultaneous road widening projects.)
Roxas led the distribution of nine patrol jeeps to officials and police of Davao del Sur, as part of his promise to turn over 1,490 vehicles purchased by the Philippine National Police to local government units across the country.
In his televised speech at the Coconut Palace on Wednesday, Binay slammed President Aquino and his allies for the “selective justice” he has gotten amid allegations, saying he was already fed up with the “numb and incompetent” administration.
But on Thursday, Aquino said he “gave [Binay] all the opportunity so that he would not be a spare tire.”
The Vice President on Monday tendered his irrevocable resignation as housing czar and presidential adviser on OFW affairs. IDL
