CEBU CITY – Tension flared between Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Grace Poe over issues hounding each other’s candidacy for president.
This escalated when Binay accused Poe of once renouncing her Philippine citizenship because she was ashamed; Poe shot back and alleged the Vice President of being a corrupt official.
The verbal tussle was ignited when Binay was giving his statement about supporting the freedom of information that he would implement in an executive order.
Poe interjected saying she can’t believe that Binay supported the freedom of information measure when he does not even want to answer the corruption allegations hurled against him during the Senate investigation.
“Mawalang galang po, VP Binay, marami kami katanungan sa inyo, hindi niyo sinasagot sa Senado. Paano naman kami maniniwala na susundin niyo ang tunay na freedom of information?” Poe said.
Binay said the allegations are not convictions until the court issues a decision finding him liable for the corruption.
“Hanggang ngayon nasa stage ng bintang. Pag nag-convict e di parusahan yun. Yun ang conviction. Kaya lang yung bintang, hindi yun ang conviction,” Binay said.
“Kung ano ang desisyon, sundin natin. We must be a government with a rule of law,” Binay added.
Poe rebutted and said the same rule of law dictates that Binay should also follow the rules of the debate.
The debate was delayed after Binay’s political nemesis Mar Roxas opposed the move of the Vice President to bring documents during the debates.
Binay took this opportunity to lash back at Poe over the questions surrounding her citizenship.
Poe once renounced her Filipino citizenship to become an American citizen before reacquiring it to serve in the Philippine government.
“Madame senator, pinag-uusapan natin ang rule of law. Ikaw lagi mo sinasabi ikaw ay tunay na Filipino. Paano ikaw ay tunay na Filipino, sumumpa ka na ikaw ay maging Amerikano! Ikinahihiya mo ang pinanggalingan mo!” Binay said.
Poe defended that the law also respects the rights of overseas Filipinos.
Poe lashed back at Binay as he was the one violating the rule of law by pocketing millions of kickbacks when he was Makati mayor.
“Hindi ba rule of law, Mayor Binay. Hindi lang po sa kulay yun. Dito ka nga nakatira sa bansa, pero nangulimbat ka naman ng pera,” Poe said, triggering an applause from the audience.
Binay retaliated: “Hindi ka tunay na Filipino! Ikinahiya mo sinabi mo dito!”
But Poe maintained: “Nanatili ka sa bayan natin pero ikaw naman ay nangulimbat at nagnakaw. Ano ang kaibahan nun? Malaki ang kaibahan.”
Binay blasted Poe for portraying him as if he were already convicted for the crime.
“Madame senator, kung magbintang ka parang ako ay na-convict na,” Binay said.
“Ikaw ba ang sinabi kong nangulimbat?” Poe retorted.
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