“Bring it on.”
This was Malacañang’s message on Monday to the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay which it assailed for allegedly “dishing out lies” against President Aquino.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, in a text message to the Inquirer, wondered “who continues to tell lies, the Vice President then or the Vice President now?”
He quoted Binay as saying when he was still part of the Cabinet: “We also need to acknowledge the positive impact of the reforms initiated by President Aquino. These reforms triggered renewed interest in the Philippines and a reappraisal of our economic potential.”
Binay, Lacierda said, “continues to attack the President because he refuses to answer convincingly all allegations of corruption and ill-gotten wealth against him.”
“We have yet to hear a response (from Binay) other than ‘it’s just politics,’” he said.
Lacierda denied that the Palace had called for the resignation of officials in the Housing and Urban Development and Coordinating Council identified with Binay. “No such call from the Palace,” he said.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over the weekend that any time a Cabinet member resigned, the team he brought in submitted “courtesy resignations.”
Binay’s spokesman Joey Salgado said the Vice President was “saddened” by Valte’s statement, pointing out that the heads of housing agencies were presidential appointees.
“Some of the board members have fixed terms of office while some are coterminous with the President,” he said.
Salgado said Binay had recommended these people based on their qualifications and willingness to serve in the government. They are Pag-Ibig Fund president Darlene Marie Berberabe, Home Guaranty Corp. president Manuel Sanchez, National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. president Felixberto Bustos Jr., Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board chief executive officer Antonio Bernardo, and consultant Chit Borromeo.–Jerry E. Esplanada