— Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Gringo Honasan show their certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Election in Manila on Monday, the first day of filing of COCs. Binay and Honasan will run under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) for the 2016 election. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) –Vice President Jejomar Binay on Saturday said that it’s high time to accept that unabated criminality is a problem that Filipinos face.
Speaking to reporters after campaigning before market vendors at Mega Q-Mart in Quezon City, the opposition standard bearer highlighted the recent shooting in Zamboanga City of Saudi cleric Dr. Aaidh Ibn Abdullah Al-Qarni and Saudi diplomat Sheikh Turki Assaegh.
“Dalawa ‘yon, ‘yong cleric at saka [Saudi diplomat]. ‘Yon ay itinatago sa atin ng pamahalaan,” Binay said.
Al-Qarni and Assaegh were shot by a student in Western Mindanao State University where the prominent cleric spoke in a forum.
After undergoing surgery, the two were declared out of danger.
The gunman, Rugasan Misuari III, was however killed by Al-Qarni’s security escort, while two other suspects were arrested and charged with frustrated murder and attempted murder.
“Laging sinasabi maganda ang peace and order. It’s high time already to accept that it is a problem. ‘Yong crime incidence, peace and order problems, drugs, ‘di ba?” he said.
“Paulit-ulit na, that means it is very alarming. It is already 12 o’clock so kailangan nating harapin ‘yong problemang ‘yon,” he added.
Binay also reiterated his intention to appoint his running mate, Sen. Gringo Honasan, as the anti-crime czar if he wins in the May elections. Honasan is a cashiered Army colonel before joining politics.
Sought to comment on Binay’s statement, Malacañang said that the country has already made progress in peace and order.
“I think the record will show that we have had much more order throughout the country than in other years,” Communications Undersecretary Manolo Quezon said.
“There has been substantial gains to keep the country safe,” he added. (MNS)