Vice President Jejomar Binay on Tuesday accused the administration of President Benigno Aquino III of plotting an impeachment complaint against him, expressing confidence the “petty charges” would be eventually dismissed.
Binay said the supposed impeachment charges allegedly being prepared by Malacañang was part of the “demolition job” to sabotage his presidential bid in 2016.
“Hindi tama ‘yung sinabi ng Malacañang na wala silang nalalaman na merong ginagawang paraan para ako’y ma-impeach. Bibigyan namin kayo ng kopya o kunin ninyo ‘yung pinadala ng Ombudsman,” Binay said in an interview with reporters in Pangasinan. “Nakalagay doon ako ay iimbestigahin for a ground of impeachment. Ano ‘yun? Maliwanag pa ‘yun. So, andoon na ‘yung impeachment intentions nila.”
But a confident Binay called the supposed impeachment threat “funny,” saying it would not even hurdle the Office of the Ombudsman.
“Nakakatawa kasi, unang-una na, alam mo may kasabihan tayo sa Tagalog ‘yung ‘pagka ayaw maniwala ay nagbibingi-bingihan, nagbubulag-bulagan. ‘Yung inihahabla sa akin, unang-una na, hindi tatayo sa husgado ‘yan,” he said.
Binay said the supposed complaint would not stand of being passed, as the charges were not involving his vice presidency.
“Maliwanag pa sa araw kahit na hindi ka naman abogado, ang impeachment tinatanggal sa upuan o pwesto ‘yung isang vice president o president na impeachable for an offense committed during his term. At tsaka merong grounds, may mga grounds ‘yan. Eh ‘yun ay alleged overpricing, wala namang ebidensya,” he said, referring to the corruption allegations being hurled against him on the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II.