Binay camp to Palace: Mar should explain metro woes

MANILA, Philippines  — The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday hit back at the comments of Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda on government underspending.

Binay's camp claimed that Lacierda is attempting to divert the issue surrounding administration's presidential bet Manuel "Mar" Roxas II.

"Puro pa-cute si Secretary Lacierda habang napakaraming Pilipino ang nabubuwisit na sa administrasyon dahil walang makain, nakapila sa MRT, o naiipit sa matinding trapik," Rico Quicho, Binay's spokesperson, said in a statement.

Binay earlier claimed that the administration of President Benigno Aquino III is deliberately underspending funds to "save up" for the 2016 elections.

Lacierda, however, said that the issue of government underspending is already old news.

"Huli sa balita si VP Binay tungkol sa underspending. Ganyan talaga pag hindi inindorso, ang dating pinupuri, pinupuna," Lacierda said in a statement.

The presidential spokesperson added that Binay's life improved but could still not explain the corruption allegations against him.

Quicho reacted to the Palace statements, accusing the Liberal Party of being behind the demolition work against Binay.

"Ginamit na nga ng administrasyon ang mga sangay ng pamahalaan para sa demolition job laban kay Vice President Binay pero hindi pa rin napapatunayan ang mga bintang laban sa kanya," Quicho said.

Quicho stressed that the allegations against vice president do not have evidence. He cited the report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council stating that Binay has 242 bank accounts.

"Imbes na nag 'Noynoying' si Secretary Lacierda, ipaliwanag na lamang niya ang kurapsyon sa DOTC, Customs, DAR at DBM na nilapastangan ang kaban ng bayan sa paggamit ng illegal na DAP funds," Binay's spokesperson said.

Quicho maintained that Binay has already answered the issues against him and claimed that it is Roxas who has to explain the issues surrounding him.

"'Yong inendorso nila na si Secretary Roxas ang hindi sumasagot sa isyu ng palpak na MRT, trapik, at mabagal na serbisyo sa LTO na nagsimula noong siya ay nasa DOTC. Ganoon din sa laganap na kriminalidad at illegal drugs samantalang naging DILG secretary siya ng mahabang panahon," Quicho said.

Aquino recently hit presidential aspirants during his speech before the Filipino community in Italy. The president 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.

Binay's camp claimed that the president's latest "jab" against the vice president can be interpreted as the resumption of the demolition job against the latter.