After bet tagged in funds misuse, Duterte camp calls UNA ‘desperate’

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

The camp of presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte described as “desperate” the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) for implicating the tough-talking local executive in the misuse of education funds.

Peter Tiu Laviña, Duterte’ spokesman, said Vice President Jejomar Binay’s camp “is now attempting to paint everyone black out of its desperation to escape the burning allegations of massive corruption hurled against the UNA [standard-bearer].”

On Friday, UNA said Duterte may be liable for the misuse of P46M Special Education Fund (SEF) in 2014 committed under his administration.

READ: UNA questions Duterte’s crusade vs crime, tags mayor in funds misuse

Binay’s party was citing a 2014 Commission on Audit (COA) report, which divulged irregularities in the use of the Davao’s SEF amounting to some ₱45.8 million.

However, Duterte’s camp hit back at UNA, saying “Binay’s camp ‘rehashed’ a COA report that questioned the spending of around P46 million in education funds.”

“We see UNA desperately trying to muddle and confuse the public as it evades the allegations of corruption hounding VP Binay right now,” Laviña said.

He added that the issue was already raised and answered last year.

“There is nothing new here. This is an old information made to appear fresh. I would say, this is a worthless piece of information. But, really, nice try,” he said.

“Based on the information I received from the Department of Education, the questioned funds were used for the promotion of physical education programs, which is allowed under the law,” he added.

Laviña cited Republic Act 5447, which created the SEF, saying “the fund shall be used to improve school facilities, print and buy books, pay salaries of teachers, grant scholarships, and promote physical education programs.”

“The funds were used to send athletes and their coaches to sporting events across the country,” he said. “These programs are basically designed to promote physical education programs. What’s wrong with that?”

If the spending was anomalous, he said cases would have been filed against city officials, including Duterte.

“But unlike Binay who is saddled with corruption cases, nothing was filed against Duterte,” he maintained. RAM