A DAY after he delivered his counter-State of the Nation Address (Sona), Vice President Jejomar Binay on Tuesday defended himself from criticisms that he politicized the death of the 44 elite commandos of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (SAF) during his 30-minute speech in Cavite.
Binay said he only did what President Benigno Aquino III failed to do in the latter’s last and longest Sona on July 27.
“Nakakalungkot po kasi eh, maraming pinasalamatang mga tao pero ‘yung mga nagbuwis ng buhay, nasugatan, ni ha ni ho wala man lamang nabanggit,” Binay said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990AM.
“Nagpapatunay lang talaga na walang iniisip ‘yung mga kalaban namin sa pulitika, na lagi ka na lamang pagbibintangan na may kulay pulitika. Kulay pulitika ba naman ‘yung pagpapasalamat?” he added.
The Vice President was reacting to the statement of Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II that he “politicized the heroism of the SAF 44.”
READ: Roxas slams Binay for politicizing heroism of SAF 44
Binay on Monday hit the Aquino administration anew before officials and students of the Cavite State University, with a 7 by 26 feet mural of the SAF 44 as backdrop. Toward the end of his speech, he also mentioned every name of the 44 slain policemen.
READ: Binay Sona: SAF 44’s valor extolled
As to criticisms from Roxas and the president’s allies that he was clapping for the government’s gains during his five-year stint in the Aquino administration, Binay said he only knew how to praise efforts and achievements, but added that he would not keep mum if he spot something wrong.
“’Yung sinasabing pinapalakpakan ko dun, eh tinutuligsa ko kapag mali. Tinutuligsa ko po. Kapag tama, pinapalakpakan ko po. Tinatanong ako bakit pinapupurihan ho ninyo ang administrasyon… Ako team player pero kapag mali eh dapat ho tuligsain,” he said.