By PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA — Vice President Jejomar Binay, believing that criticisms against him were politically motivated, challenged his critics to face him in a “clean and fair election” in 2016.
Binay yesterday made a televised address at the Philippine International Convention Center to answer the allegations against him and his family relative to the reportedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building 2.
He said the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee investigation on the car park building has turned into a “circus.”
“Tigilan natin ang pagsisinungaling at paninira sa kapwa. Humarap tayong lahat sa iaang malinis at patas na halalan. Ipakita natin ang ating kakayahan at karanasan upang maging batayan ng taumbayan (Let’s stop all the lies and mudslinging, and face a clean and fair election. Let our abilities and experience speak for us),” said Binay.
Senators Aquilino Pimentel III, Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV are leading the investigation.
Both Cayetano and Trillanes have expressed intent to run for higher office in the next election.
In his 18-minute speech, Binay, former mayor of Makati, said he is no stranger to criticisms, especially during months ahead of elections.
“Tuwing halalan na lang sa Makati, ang ganitong kasinungalingan ay nilalako at binubuhay ng aking mga kalaban sa pulitika. Ngunit ang husga at tinig ng taongbayan ng Makati: Serbisyong Binay pa rin ang maaasahan (My political opponents spread these lies every time election nears. Still, the people of Makati believe that they can rely on public service from a Binay),” he stressed.
Binay vehemently denied that the car park building was overpriced and that biddings for construction projects in Makati had been rigged.
Former Makati vice mayor Ernesto Mercado’s claim that Binay received kickbacks was mere hearsay, said the vice president.
“Ang gusali ay ipinatayo sa loob ng limang taon, at sa bawat taon ay hinahanapan ito ng konseho ng pondong gagastusin. Dumadaan ito sa mahigpit na audit ng Commission on Audit (It took us five years to complete the building. Every year, the city council would search for funds. The whole process undergoes strict auditing by the Commission on Audit),” he said.
Binay said the project contractor, Hilmarc’s Construction Corp., itself denied that he received kickbacks from its projects./PN
