Roxas to Binay: Why should we trust you?

Vice President Jejomar Binay (left) and Former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

LIBERAL Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas on Tuesday ratcheted up his attacks on Vice President Jejomar Binay, suggesting that the latter could not be trusted for failing to answer questions about how he came by his enormous wealth.

“The point here is why should we trust you?” Roxas said, addressing Binay, who on Monday criticized Roxas’ record as transportation and communications secretary.

“He needs to answer the question: Where did his wealth come from?” said Roxas, the chosen successor of President Aquino.

He cited Binay’s remarks during the first presidential debate last month.

“He said during the debate that he inherited his landholdings. But wasn’t he himself the one who said that his mother had died because they couldn’t afford to buy medicine? So, was there land or was there no money to buy medicines? What is the truth, Vice President Binay?” Roxas said.

He said that it was true that Binay had come from poor beginnings but now he is “no longer poor.”

“You are wealthy now. Hundreds of millions went through the account of Ebeng Baloloy, your assistant secretary,” he said, referring to Eduviges Baloloy, a longtime aide of Binay’s.

Roxas also cited what he described as the “thievery” in Makati City, which Binay served as mayor for a long time, and for which he is now facing corruption charges.

“It’s not I who is saying it. It’s the COA (Commission on Audit) that’s saying it, it’s the Ombudsman that’s saying it. But even now, you have not answered the questions,” Roxas said.

Binay has returned to the top of the preelection opinion surveys, followed by Sen. Grace Poe and Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Roxas is in fourth place.