VP BINAY: COMPLAINT FLAWED, NOT BASED ON FACTS, DRIVEN BY 2016 POLITICS

MANILA-Vice President Jejomar C. Binay today described the plunder complaint filed against him as devoid of factual basis and connected to the 2016 presidential elections where he is widely seen as the frontrunner.

The Vice President also revealed that the complainants, all local political opponents of the Binays, are backed by a known group of lawyers who has been trying to resurrect dismissed cases against him.

In a speech before the Financial Executives of the Philippines (FINEX) and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Binay said the complainants have a routine of raising non-existent issues against his family during election season.

“This complaint is no exception, although we have been informed that this time around, our local opponents have been provided with the needed resources, financial and otherwise, by certain national interest groups, particularly a group of lawyers closely identified with a national personality,” he said.

The Vice President said the group – which he did not identify – “has been trying in vain” to resurrect the dismissed cases against him.

Binay also said he expects more complaints and issues to be raised against him in the coming months.

“Believe me, this is only the beginning. We expect more to come. And like the one filed yesterday, these complaints will be devoid of facts, devoid of legal basis, and fueled by the dirty politics that was supposed to have been swept away with the previous administration,” he said.

The Vice President expressed confidence that the complaint will be dismissed. He also said he will continue focusing on his work in government.

“In a fair and impartial evaluation, this complaint, and all the others that we know for a fact are in the pipeline, will be dismissed. Nonetheless my commitment to advance the interest of our overseas Filipino workers, provide shelter for the poor, and assist our fellow Filipinos in need will remain undiminished by these false and politically motivated accusations,” he said.

The Vice President also said those behind the complaint intend to sow intrigue between him and President Aquino by spreading the word that the complaint was a Palace move.

“And it appears that there is a deeper agenda at play. We have been told that those who are pulling the strings want to sow intrigue between President Aquino and myself. They want me to think that the Palace is orchestrating the filing of this baseless complaint against me and my son to divert attention from the impeachment complaints filed against the President,” he said.

“Gusto nilang isipin ko na pakana ito para isalba si Pangulo at dahil dito ay magtampo ako at sumama ang loob sa ating Pangulo. Sa madaling salita, gusto nilang pag-awayin kami ng ating Pangulo,” he said.

The Vice President also pointed out that the complainants focused only on his allies in Makati, and dropped the names of their allies who attended City Council sessions.

“They only included the names of our allies. But their allies and partymates were part of the city council and were present when the council approved the ordinances they cited, so why exclude them? Your guess is as good as mine but that, for me, is undeniable proof of the selective, frivolous and political nature of this co-called complaint,” he said.