Mar Roxas behind graft raps, Binay says

Vice President Jejomar Binay. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday said Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas is behind the “demolition by perception” plot to charge him of corruption.

In an ambush interview after a forum in the Ateneo de Manila University, Binay hit back at Roxas for claiming Binay is an expert on graft and corruption.

“Talagang labis na nagpapatunay na si Mar Roxas ay kasama sa conspiracy ng demolition by perception, yung pagdidiinan at pagsisinungaling na ako ay expert sa graft and corruption,” Binay said.

On Thursday, Roxas said Binay seemed to be using his personal experience when the latter explained the difference between graft and corruption at a student forum in Dumaguete City.

READ: Roxas says Binay ‘an expert’ on graft, corruption

During the said forum Tuesday, Binay said that graft was the abusive use of power while corruption was about mishandling money.

“It’s a good thing that he (Binay) explained the difference between graft and corruption because he is an expert on it. He probably has personal experience on it that’s why he knows the difference,” Roxas said.

Binay’s camp said Binay was only speaking as a lawyer in explaining corruption.

“The Vice President was speaking as a lawyer. The difference between graft and corruption is something clear to lawyers and those who understand and respect the law,” Quicho said.

Binay urged Roxas to answer the allegations that he as former Transportation and Interior Secretary failed to curb criminality and ease traffic woes.

“Ang sagot namin, sagutin niya muna yung sinasabi naming pagkukulang niya. Hindi niya sinasagot eh. Binabaling niya sa pagbintang,” Binay said.

In a statement Friday, Binay’s spokesperson Atty. Rico Quicho said Roxas does not respect the rule of law in making a statement about Binay’s supposed expertise in corruption.

Binay is under graft indictment by the Ombudsman for the alleged rigging and overprice of the Makati Parking Building II.

“This is something that is lost to Sec. Roxas and the LP administration, who do not respect the rule of law and twists the law to advance their narrow and selfish political agenda,” Quicho said.

READ: Ombudsman finds probable cause to charge VP Binay with graft

Binay was indicted for graft by the Ombudsman for allegedly rigging the procurement for the design and construction of the P2.28-billion Makati City Hall Building II, deemed the country’s priciest car park building, when he was Makati mayor.

Binay also faces four other plunder and graft complaints before the Ombudsman over the alleged anomalies involving the Makati Science High School Building, University of Makati, a Fort Bonifacio property, and over an allegedly anomalous land deal between Alphaland and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, where Binay is long-running President.

Binay decried political harassment by his detractors who intend to derail his presidential bid.

READ: Binay appeals graft indictment, says it’s meant to ruin 2016 run