Binay, Honasan unfazed; file COCs amid corruption charges
The tandem of Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan remain unfazed that they both face graft charges before the Ombudsman.
Moments before filing their certificates of candidacy (COC) at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday, Honasan said he remained confident on the judicial processes and that he will answer to the charges at the proper time.
“The Ombudsman will determine that. Up to this point, I trust with the fairness in the judicial system until proven otherwise,” Honasan said in an interview after a Mass in San Agustin Church, Intramuros.
When asked further how he would face corruption allegations ahead of the elections, Honasan asked to wait for the proper time to face his detractors.
“Malalaman natin ‘yan sa darating na panahon. Ang huhusga sa proseso natin at sa darating na halalan ay ang taumbayan,” Honasan added.
(We will know that in the right time. The people will be the ones to judge us in the elections.)
Binay has maintained that the complaint against him for plunder and graft in connection with the alleged overpricing and rigging of procurement for infrastructure projects in Makati are politically motivated.
Alongside his running mate, Binay said Honasan may not be his first option, but he was selected by the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) party to be Binay’s running-mate. Honasan is UNA Vice President.
READ: 2 team-ups taking shape | UNA selects Honasan as Binay’s VP
“UNA na, BinGo pa!” Binay said, chanting the tandem name which others also call BiHon.
Binay said he has served in local government for 25 years, most as Makati mayor for two decades, and it is time for him to run for the county’s highest position.
“Dalawampu’t limang taon ako naglingkod sa pamahalaan at ang isang tinuunan ko ay ang iangat sa kahirapan ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” Binay said.
(I have been in government for 25 years, and I have focused on improving the lives of poor Filipinos.)
Honasan admitted that he was not Binay’s first option, but he remained confident of representing UNA to help unify the party. Binay’s first option is Senator Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr., who turned down the offer to run as vice president in 2016.
“Ito ay tawag ng pagkakataon. This is a sense of duty. I am a good soldier… I will follow the party that I am helping organize,” Honasan said.
“I do not have the luxury of an ego. I do not have a star complex. As long as I went through a selection process,” he added.
Honasan vowed to address the flight of common workers such as soldiers, overseas Filipino workers, police officers, farmers, among others.
“Ang platform namin ay laban sa kahirapan at seguridad sa trabaho para sa lahat, para makamit natin sa lalong madaling panahon ang mga OFW, sundalo, pulis at magsasaka ay makauwi na sa isang bansa na mapayapa at maunlad,” Honasan said.
(Our platform is to fight poverty and provide security of tenure for all, so that the OFWs, soldiers, police and farmers can go home to a country that is peaceful and progressive.)
Binay and Honasan walked together from a Mass in San Agustin Church to file their certificates of candidacy. They were greeted with chants of “Una na, BinGo pa!” from supporters who lined the street in front of Comelec with banners of support for the tandem.
Binay and Honasan filed their certificates of candidacy at the Comelec around 8:30 a.m. The media frenzy turned to chaos because of cameramen and photographers scrambling to shoot a video or pictures of the tandem that the Comelec cancelled the scheduled press conference for the two.
Honasan is part of the third batch of pork barrel scam complaint filed before the Ombudsman in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam of Janet Lim-Napoles. He is accused of malversation, graft and bribery for allegedly receiving P1.75 million kickbacks according to the financial records of whistleblower Benhur Luy.
After filing their certificates of candidacy, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Gringo Honasan raise their hands together as presidential and vice presidential bets of the United Nationalist Alliance. MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB/INQUIRER.net
READ: Honasan, Villanueva, 7 others face raps over pork barrel scam
Meanwhile, Binay faces five plunder and graft complaints before the Ombudsman over the alleged anomalies involving the Makati Parking Building II, Makati Science High School building, University of Makati, a Fort Bonifacio property, and over an allegedly anomalous land deal between the Alphaland and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, where Binay is long-running President.
Binay has claimed that members of the opposition are targeted to be charged with corruption raps by the administration even as the latter turn a blind eye on allies.
Binay’s family – wife Elenita, daughters Senator Nancy and Makati Rep. Abigail, and son Junjun – accompanied the vice president at the Comelec. Mayor Junjun Binay was dismissed from service by the Ombudsman for dishonesty and misconduct in connection with the alleged rigged procurement for the design and construction of the purportedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II, deemed the country’s most expensive parking building.
Honasan as a soldier played a key role in leading the people’s revolt in Edsa I which ousted from power dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Honasan was a leader of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement, which broke away from the martial rule that time.
Binay, meanwhile, is a lawyer-activist during the Marcos dictatorship. Hewas a member of the Movement of Attorneys for Brotherhood, Integrity and Nationalism (Mabini), which campaigned against ousted President Marcos’ rule. The group included former senators Rene Saguisag and Joker Arroyo, who died last week. IDL
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Originally posted: Oct 12, 2015 @ 08:06
