Binay vows not to impeach Ombudsman Morales

DAGUPAN CITY – Vice President Jejomar Binay on Sunday vowed that he would not impeach Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales even though the latter indicted him for graft and malversation over his alleged role in the overpriced Makati car park building.

During the fast-talk segment of the presidential debate at the University of Pangasinan, Binay said he promised to be a unifying and healing president and vowed not to impeach Morales, whom he has sued for damages after the Ombudsman investigated the Vice President for corruption.

“No, kasi gusto ko makilala na healing and unifying president,” Binay said.

Binay made the statement even though Morales earlier said an ally of the Vice President threatened to impeach her if the former wins as president.

READ: Binay camp denies threatening Morales with impeachment

Morales earlier accused the Binay camp of threatening her for her alleged role in leaking the Commission on Audit (COA) report, which alleged that the construction of Makati car park building, which took place when the Vice President was still mayor, was overpriced and graft-ridden.

“I received threats. The threat was passed through a high official from a close and valued ally-politician of the Vice President. So, what did I say? I expect that,” Morales said.

“They said they are going to run after me if the vice president wins as President. Go ahead, I welcome that,” she added.

Morales’ office found probable cause to file graft, malversation and falsification of public document charges against Binay and his son Junjun in connection with the alleged anomalous construction of the Makati City Hall Building II.

The Ombudsman is an impeachable officer under the Constitution. Congress has the constitutional mandate to remove impeachable officers due to offenses such as culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.

Binay earlier filed a P200-million damage suit against Morales, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and several of Binay’s staunchest critics and former allies over the allegations of massive corruption in Makati when Binay was mayor.

The Inquirer reported that the COA finished its final special audit report on the P2.8-billion Makati car park building, which started construction when Vice President Binay was Makati mayor and continued to the term of his son Junjun.

The report said the procurement was rigged to award the contract to favored contractors despite deficiencies in documents, and that the contract price was “bloated” to the disadvantage of government.

State auditors said the Vice President is administratively liable for grave misconduct, dishonesty and gross inexcusable negligence, as well as for graft and corrupt practices.

The report said Binay should be penalized with removal from office, fines and imprisonment.