Lacierda calls Binay an ‘expert in corruption’

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ JOAN BONDOC

“Walk the talk.” That’s Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda’s unsolicited advice to Vice President Jejomar Binay after one of his spokespersons accused the Aquino administration of using people’s money to bribe village officials.

“I suppose that’s how VP intends to govern, to be bribed and to bribe. That’s why he is the expert in corruption, and a joker when (he) talks about good governance,” Lacierda said in a text message to media.

“When he talks about FOI (Freedom of Information), nobody believes him because he cannot even produce his own private secretary for many years, his financial adviser for many years,” he said, referring to Eduviges “Ebeng” Baloloy and Gerardo Limlingan who are still missing.

READ: In the Know: Gerry Limlingan and Eduviges ‘Ebeng’ Baloloy

“Maybe he really walks the talk because he loves to talk about bribing,” Lacierda said.

The Secretary was responding to United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) spokesperson Mon Ilagan who said that the Bottom-up Budgeting (BUB) program for village officials should be called “Bribe your barangay.”

Last week, President Benigno Aquino III and ruling party presidential candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II presented the BUB program to village officials.

READ: Aquino, Roxas court barangay officials

Roxas, who resigned as interior secretary to campaign for the May elections, told the officials that all local government units will receive funding, regardless of political color.

In his speech, which UNA criticized, Roxas told the village chiefs that P1,000 will be allotted for each resident.

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