MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday claimed that President Benigno Aquino III's latest "jab" against the vice president can be interpreted as the resumption of the demolition job against the presidential candidate.
In his speech before the Filipino community in Italy, Aquino criticized the presidential aspirants for the 2016 elections and alluded to the corruption allegations against Binay.
"Mayroon po diyan, inakusahan ng pagsasamsam ng kaban ng bayan sa pagkatagal-tagal na panahon. Kung totoo ang alegasyon at nagnanakaw nga itong taong ito, ano po kaya ang matitira para tustusan ang pagpaganda ng buhay na ipinapangako niya?" Aquino said.
The spokesperson of Binay expressed his disappointment over the president's remarks in Italy.
"We find it unfortunate that the president has forgotten his statement last year that Vice President Binay should be presumed innocent, a right accorded to all individuals under our Constitution," Binay's spokesperson, lawyer Rico Quicho, said in a statement.
The president also criticized Sen. Grace Poe, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago.
Quicho said in a statement that the president failed to acknowledge the shortcomings of administration bet Manuel "Mar" Roxas II.
"An honest appraisal of all the presidential candidates should not exclude the administration candidate," Quicho said, adding that Roxas occupied several key positions in the president's Cabinet for the past five years.
Quicho cited the worsening situation of the Metro Rail Transit and the traffic situation in Metro Manila as examples.
Binay's spokesperson also noted the unreleased billions of funds for local governments, water projects and developmental programs due to Roxas.
"These are concrete issues that need concrete answers from the administration candidate. He is, after all, running on a platform of continuity," the lawyer said.
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