Binay parries Roxas question on corruption

DAGUPAN CITY – “I will win.”

This was the response of Vice President Jejomar Binay during the face-off segment in the presidential debate at the University of the Pangasinan, when asked by his nemesis Mar Roxas to answer the corruption allegations him.

Roxas asked Binay to explain the overpriced beds and hospital equipment in Makati where the vice president served as mayor for two decades.

“Panghuling debate na ito, national audience, pagkakataon mo na ito para ipaliwanag ang mga charges na hindi mo nasasagot sa Senado, kung paano ang isang kama ay P34,000 ay naging P545,000, kung paano ang isang building na P200 million ay naging P2.3 billion. Ito na ang pagkakataon mo,” Roxas said.

The Senate investigated Binay over the alleged overpriced social services in Makati, as well as the overpriced Makati car park building when he was mayor.

Binay laughed at Roxas for bringing up old issues against him.

Instead, he listed his platform of government in case he wins, such as modernizing agriculture, scrapping irrigation fees for farmers, and providing jobs to farmers and fisherfolk.

“Ikaw ha, sure na sure sa sinasabi ng Tagalog, kung ayaw makinig, nagbibingibingian, kung ayaw tingnan, nagbubulag-bulagan. Wala nang bago dyan,” Binay said.

“Magsasalita na lang ako sa kung ano ang dahilan na pinagharap-harap tayo, yung plataporma at pinaninindigan natin – modernize agriculture, aalisin ko ang irrigation fee, magkakaroon po tayo ng insurance, magkakaroon po tayo ng crops. Tayo ay gagawa ng mga pamamaraan… paano matutulungan pa ang mga magsasaka at mangingisda para lumaki ang kanilang hanapbuhay,” Binay said.

Visibly irked at Binay’s refusal to answer his question, Roxas said Binay missed his chance and he trusts the electorate to decide whether or not they trust Binay with his answer.

“Tiwala ang nasa sentro ng ating relasyon sa ating mga kababayan. Binigyan kita ng pagkakataon masagot ang mga katanungan, na hindi pa nasasagot, tiwala at tiwala lang din ang pinanghahawakan ng kababayan,” Roxas said.

Binay responded by saying that Roxas is not the court to judge Binay if he is corrupt.

He expressed confidence that regardless of Roxas’ allegations, he would still win the elections.

“Hindi ka naman hukuman para humatol na ako’y may kasalanan. Ito, malaman natin kung walang tiwala at mapapaniwalang ka ng anong bagay bagay na walang batayan,” Binay said.

“Mananalo ako sa darating na halalan,” he added.

Binay had earlier expressed confidence that he would win by a margin of four million votes.

He said his chief of staff had already calculated their solid votes and predicted that he would have a seven to 10 percent lead from the next candidate or a margin of four million votes.

READ: Binay: I will win by 4M votes

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