PHOTO BY MIKE DE JUAN
VP’s agencies got P11.4B in 2011, says DBM chief
Budget Secretary Florencio Abad on Friday hit back at Vice President Jejomar Binay, calling him a “hypocrite” as he said agencies under him benefited from the Administration’s controversial Disbursement Acceleration
Program (DAP).
In a statement, Abad said Binay received at least P11.45 billion funding from DAP in October 2011.
“I find it hypocritical that he is against DAP... He never raised any issue when the two agencies received and used those funds,” Abad told reporters in a text message.
Binay headed the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Home Guaranty Corporation, which were recipients of DAP funds.
“Why was it okay then, and not okay now when he is out of government? When was he telling the truth?” Abad said.
In a speech on Wednesday, Binay accused the administra
In a speech on Wednesday, Binay accused the administration of persecuting him while tolerating those allegedly involved in the DAP controversy.
Rebutting Binay, Abad insisted that the DAP, despite being declared as invalid, was done in good faith and no official was declared guilty of any offense by the Supreme Court (SC).
“Unfortunately, he does not understand or more likely refuses to understand the Supreme Court’s decision on DAP,” he said.
“The SC did not declare anyone guilty of any wrongdoing or graft. But in fact reiterated in a clearer manner the doctrine of operative fact, which presumes good faith in all the acts and decisions made in relation to DAP,” Abad added.
Like a leper
Binay also on Friday said he felt like a leper during Cabinet meetings.
When asked by reporters if he was treated like an outcast by the other members of the President’s official family, the Vice President said he felt like a leper after his critics allegedly spread rumors that he would soon be arrested for plunder and graft.
“Hindi naman naa-outcast. Pero, alam mo itong mga bandang huli na nga kasama na ito siguro ng resulta ng panggigipit, at sabihin ko lang sa inyo ha, lalung-lalo na na kalat na kalat na at ikinakalat ng mga kalaban ko sa pulitika na ako ay ipaaaresto. Alam mo para kang may ketong doon sa Cabinet meeting [Not really an outcast. But lately, as a result of being persecuted and I’m just telling you that especially when my political opponents started spreading rumors that I would soon be arrested, I started to feel like a leper during Cabinet meetings],” he added.
The Vice President on Monday resigned his Cabinet portfolio. Binay was presidential adviser on overseas workers affairs and chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.
Gross misrepresentation
Commenting on Binay’s claims, Malacañang said the Vice President was treated with respect by his fellow Cabinet members.
“With the utmost respect to the Vice President, the underdog image he tries to portray is a gross misrepresentation of what happens inside Cabinet meetings,” its spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a text message.
“The truth is he is given all the respect due the second highest official in the land during Cabinet meetings,” he added.
Lacierda refused to engage the Vice President in a word war, saying the Aquino administration has no time for politicking as it remains focused on governance and public service.
“As we have stated, we will gently address to the Vice President’s camp all the issues he could have raised to the President as a Cabinet member but chose not to,” Lacierda told reporters.
“Resigned Chair VP Binay and his people may have the luxury of hitting President Aquino and his men and women but President Aquino, the incumbent Cabinet members and his entire administration are committed to fulfill our oaths with undivided devotion, ardent fervor and utmost dedication to serve the Filipino people and tread daang matuwid [straight path] until the last day of the Aquino administration,” he said.
In a separate statement, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. appealed for calm and reason from Binay’s camp.