Binay visits LP mayor in Parañaque, accuses LP of vote-buying

VICE President Jejomar Binay on Monday paid a courtesy call to Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, a stalwart of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), but still came up swinging against the administration party.

Binay visited the city hall before dusk Monday greeted by a throng of city hall employees who posed for selfies, shook his hands, and pecked the cheeks of the opposition candidate from the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

Olivarez greeted Binay at the city hall steps.

Olivarez initially did not sit beside Binay during the short program even though it was supposed to be a courtesy call.

Parañaque councilor actress Alma Moreno, who is part of UNA’s senatorial slate, had to call the mayor when she spotted him from the crowd to come in front and sit beside Binay.

In his speech, Binay denounced the Aquino administration’s failure to spend the savings for social services.

Binay vowed to be a more decisive leader than Aquino and promised to scrap the income tax for those earning P30,000 or less monthly.

Aquino initially considered lowering the income tax but later opposed it because it might cause a massive revenue hole for government.

“This is an instance of a flip-flopping leader. Initially, he was against. Later on, he was in favor. Then he did not agree with it, kaya hindi naging batas,” Binay said.

“I promise to be a decisive leader; hindi tayo mag-fi-flip-flopping. I would hit the ground running,” he added.

Binay also accused the Liberal Party of using the bottom up budgeting (BUB) to buy votes.

The UNA earlier said the BUB is “legalized” vote buying when LP standard bearer Mar Roxas vowed to expand it during his campaign.

UNA spokesperson Mon Ilagan had said the Binay camp received reports of vote-buying by the administration in Tagbilaran, Bohol, Nueva Ecija through the BUB and the conditional cash transfer.

Ilagan said those buying votes would ask the barangay leaders what their population is and would tell them to “add a zero to it,” which would be the number of their programs or projects.

Ilagan said the 2016 national budget has P24.7 billion for the BUB at the LP’s disposal.

“The delay in spending results in a delay in projects. Kaya ipon ng ipon ng pera ay gagamitin sa eleksyon. Kaya ngayon, may BUB,” Binay said.

Despite criticizing the administration party, Binay praised Olivarez, saying they have known each other for a long time and that Olivarez who has the experience and compassion to lead Parañaque city again.

In an interview after the short program, Olivarez said he would still endorse Roxas’ presidential bid.

Olivarez said Binay is welcome to visit the city hall even though the latter is from the opposition and is running against Roxas for the presidency.

“Everyone is welcome, lalong lalo na po ang vice president of the Republic of the Philippines,” said Olivarez, who is running for reelection unopposed in the coming elections.