Binay evades corruption question, declares he’ll win

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News

Posted at 24 Apr 2016 09:32 PM

MANILA – Vice President Jejomar Binay on Sunday again dodged the corruption allegations hounding his presidential bid, saying he will not waste time fending off the allegations during a presidential debate.

Binay also expressed confidence that he will be elected president, a supposed proof that the public has not lost faith in him.

The 73-year-old presidential aspirant was pressed by Liberal Party bet Mar Roxas at the third PiliPinas Debates to explain the allegedly graft-ridden projects in Makati, the stronghold of his family over the past 30 years.

The Vice President, however, insisted that he has repeatedly defended himself from these issues and it would be useless to reiterate his explanation to Roxas who “plays at being deaf and blind.”

"Ikaw Mr. Roxas ay shoot na shoot, sa sinasabi sa Tagalog. Kung ayaw makinig, nagbibingi-bingihan; kung ayaw tingnan, nagbubulag-bulagan,” Binay said.

"Ilang beses ko nang sinagot iyang pinagsasabi mo. Wala nang bago diyan."

The opposition leader added that he would not waste time on “baseless” accusations, considering that the debate’s main purpose is for candidates to lay their campaign platforms.

He went on to outline his plans to modernize agriculture, abolish irrigation fees, and improve the crop insurance scheme.

'THE ISSUE IS PUBLIC TRUST'

An unrelenting Roxas badgered Binay into addressing the issue, saying that trust is the core of a public official’s relation to the public.

"Vice President Binay, tiwala ang nasa sentro ng ating relasyon sa ating mga kababayan kaya binigyan kita ng pagkakataon na masagot itong mga katanungan na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nasasagot. Tiwala at tiwala lang din ang pinanghahawakan ng ating mga kababayan," the administration bet said.

Binay, in turn, quipped that Filipinos have not lost trust in him. This, he said, will be evident when he wins the elections.



"Iyung tiwala po, ipakikita ko pagka-panalo ko. Talagang hindi nawalan ng paniniwala ang ating mga kababayan… Mananalo ako sa darating na halalan,” he said.

Binay was investigated by the Senate, Ombudsman, and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for allegedly pocketing millions of pesos in his stint as Makati mayor.

The Ombudsman has indicted Binay and his son, dismissed Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, for the allegedly anomalous bidding and construction of the P2.28 billion-Makati City Hall Building II.

Binay's wife, Elenita Binay, is also tagged in the purchase of medical equipment supposedly overpriced by P61.2 million.

The Binay family has brushed off these charges as part of a black propaganda aimed at discrediting the Vice President.