Abi Binay scores Erice for pitting PNoy vs. VP

(UPDATE 7:41 p.m.) Vice President Jejomar Binay's daughter and one of his staunchest defenders has taken turns in denouncing a presidential ally, who on Tuesday called on the Vice President to quit President Benigno Aquino III's Cabinet if he couldn't stop opposition stalwarts from criticizing the administration.

 

Makati Rep. Abigail Binay and Naviotas Rep. Toby Tiangco on Wednesday took the cudgels for Vice President Binay and the United Nationalist Alliance a day after Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice, a Liberal Party member, delivered his scathing privilege speech against the opposition leader.

 

In separate privilege speeches, Abigail Binay and Tiangco slammed Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice for trying to drive a wedge between Aquino and the Vice President.

 

“Clearly, those who are saying that I and the UNA party are accusing President Aquino of complicity in spreading this ‘white paper’ masquerading as an investigative report are just desperately trying to sow intrigue between the Aquino family and Binay family,” Abigail Binay said.

 

“Malalim ang samahan ng pamilyang Aquino at pamilyang Binay. Malalim din ang samahan ng aking ama at ni Pangulong Aquino. It is a friendship that goes beyond politics,” she added.

 

“Di ko alam kung bakit niya (Erice) ginagawan ng intriga ang Presidente at Bise Presidente,” Tiangco said in his own privilege speech.

 

In a privilege speech Tuesday, Erice slammed Vice President Binay for declaring he’s Aquino's friend even as he allows members of his family and party-mates in the UNA to criticize the LP and the Aquino administration.

 

Erice called on the Vice President to resign from his Cabinet position as chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Council (HUDCC) if the Binay camp will continue criticizing the President.

 

The Caloocan congressman said he rose to LP’s defense because of reports linking the political party to the release of a white paper implicating the Binays in connection with the pork barrel scam.

 

The document alleged that Abigail Binay misused her PDAF allocation to pay for pro-Binay crowds in political rallies. It also claimed that the her implementation of vermiculture projects in Makati City from 2010 to 2011 was riddled with anomalies.

 

Abigail Binay in a statement dismissed the allegations against her as “a poor and amateurish attempt to drag the name of [my father] in the PDAF Scandal.”

 

Vermiculture project above-board

 

The Vice President’s daughter said she was compelled to defend herself in a privilege speech because Erice placed the allegations against her in the House’s records.

 

Abigail Binay said vermiculture project was done in accordance with the law and supports Makati City’s public investment policies.

 

“Kahit na yung mga ahensya na inuutsusang busisiin ang mga proyekto para makahanap ng butas laban sa akin at sa aking pamilya ang magpapatunay na lehitimo ang mga proyekt at isa-isa pa nilang kinumpirma ang bawat beneficiary participant ng proyektong ito,” she said.

 

Abigail Binay said Makati City would not have achieved prosperity if she misused her PDAF allocation, and if any of her family members in politics pocketed public funds.

 

Her father previously served as Makati City mayor for several years prior to being elected Vice President.

 

Her brother Junjun is currently the mayor of the city while her sister, Nancy, is a senator.

 

Remove UNA members in majority bloc

 

Instead of accusing Abigail Binay of wrongdoing through a privilege speech, Tiangco dared Erice to “put his money where his mouth is” and file cases against the Makati congresswoman before the Ombudsman.

 

Tiangco also challenged the long-time LP member to come up with a resolution seeking the removal of all UNA members from the House majority coalition if he felt he could no longer work with them.

 

“Parang sa tono speech ng congressman ng Caloocan, pag ayaw niya sa mga kasama ko sa UNA or pag ayaw ng kanyang grupo na masama ang mga miyembro ng UNA ay hindi na pwede [na maging bahagi ng mayorya]. Ang hamon ko sa kanya (Erice), para magkaalaman na kung ang mga miyembro ng UNA ay gusto pa nilang makasama o hindi, ay magpasa siya ng resolusyon na tinatanggal ang mga kasama ko sa UNA sa mayorya at tingnan natin kung ilan ang kaya niyang papirmahin [doon],” Tiangco said.

 

Despite his scathing remarks against Erice, Tiangco said he wasn't attacking the Liberal Party but just one party member who happened to have a negative sentiment against UNA members.

 

“Di ko alam sino pang may ganyang pag-iisip [tulad kay Erice] dahil nakita ko naman na ang mga ibang kasapi ng Liberal Party ay open-minded at talagang gustong magtrabaho kasama ang UNA,” Tiangco said. —NB, GMA News