Roxas tells Binay: Answer allegations, don’t divert issues

Video by NOY MORCOSO/INQUIRER.net

TAGUM CITY, Philippines—The word war continues. And this time, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II has a direct challenge to Vice President Jejomar Binay.

On the sidelines of the DILG’s distribution of eight patrol jeeps to local police here on Saturday, Roxas urged the Vice President to directly answer corruption allegations hurled against him before attacking the Aquino administration.

“Vice President Binay, bago mo baluktutin ‘yung sinabi ko, mas maganda siguro kung diretsahan mong sagutin ‘yung ga-bundok na ebidensyang iprinesenta sa Senado at sa iba pang forum tungkol sa mga anomalya na ‘di umano’y konektado sa iyong pamamahala sa Makati,” Roxas said in an interview with reporters.

(Vice President Binay, before you twist my statements, it will be better if you just face the mounds of evidence presented in Congress about the anomalies you allegedly committed during your governance in Makati.)

Before being Vice President, Binay was mayor of Makati City. His son Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay, also implicated in the allegations, is now the city’s head.

READ: Binay’s programs of government

Two days after he resigned from the Cabinet, Binay on Wednesday slammed the Aquino administration’s supposed blunders, calling it insensitive and bumbling.

After saying that Binay’s speech made him laugh, Roxas reacted to a statement by the Vice President that the plight of Filipinos burdened with poverty and MRT breakdowns, among others, was no laughing matter.

Vice President Jejomar Binay (left) and Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

“Palagay ko ‘yun ang pinakamahalaga–diretsahan na pagsagot imbis na linlangin natin ang ating mga kababayan at ilihis natin ang usapan sa kung anu-ano,” he said.

(I think the most important thing is for him to directly address the issues against him instead of misleading the people and diverting the issues.)

Roxas reiterated that it was perplexing for Binay to criticize the Aquino administration despite being silent while a part of the Cabinet for five years.

“Limang taon po kayong may pagkakataon na sabihin ang inyong mga napuna, pero wala po tayong nadinig. Tapos bigla po kayong babanat sa performance ng ating pangulo,” he said. “’Yun ang nakakatawa sa akin, hindi ‘yung problema.”

(For five years, you had the chance to air your grievances, but we never heard from you. And suddenly, you will criticize the President’s performance? That’s amusing.)

Binay on Monday resigned as housing czar and presidential adviser on OFW affairs. In addition to his initial criticisms, the Vice President on Friday accused Aquino of diverting housing funds to Roxas’ DILG, adding that he felt like a leper during Cabinet meetings.

Roxas on Friday told Binay to look into government figures of a P10-billion budget allocation to the National Housing Authority. Amid attacks against the administration, Roxas, the presumptive standard-bearer of the ruling Liberal Party, also pointed out how Binay himself wanted the President’s endorsement as a presidential candidate in 2016.

READ: Roxas to Binay: Look into data over undue DILG funding accusation | Roxas twits Binay: Didn’t you want Aquino’s endorsement?

“He applauded in every Sona… So what’s the truth—his applause and support? Three weeks ago, didn’t he seek the President’s endorsement?” Roxas said. IDL