Mrs. Binay’s lawyers are preparing the charges against the special prosecutor for “harassment” and for showing “undue haste” in filing the graft cases, the vice president’s spokesman Joey Salgado said in a statement Monday.
“We had hoped that given the highly-charged political atmosphere… the Ombudsman’s Office of the Special Prosecutor would have shown greater prudence to avoid allegations that it is persecuting those who are not allies of the administration,” Salgado said.
Mrs. Binay is facing graft and malversation cases before the Sandiganbayan Third Division for the purchase of allegedly overpriced beds for the Ospital ng Makati during her incumbency.
The vice president’s wife, who served as Makati mayor from 1998 to 2001, is also facing separate graft cases before the anti-graft court’s Fourth Divison for alleged anomalies in the bidding for furniture for the Makati City Hall in 2001.
Both Sandiganbayan divisions have already issued hold-departure orders against Mrs. Binay in connection with these cases.
Binays being linked to ‘pork’ scam?
Salgado further said that there are attempts to link the vice president and his daughters in the alleged pork barrel scam through “a white paper masquerading as an investigative report” supposedly being peddled to the media.
The vice president’s two daughters are currently members of Congress: Nancy Binay is a senator while Abigail Binay has a seat at the House of Representatives.
“Since the PDAF [Priority Development Assistance Fund] scandal broke, the records of the vice president, Senator Nancy, and Congresswoman Abby have been made open to the public for review. These records will show that the projects were properly implemented and fully liquidated,” Salgado said.
As early as 2011, Vice President Binay had already made public his intention to seek the presidency during the 2016 polls.
Two of Vice President Binay’s allies, Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile, are facing plunder complaints before the Ombudsman for allegedly pocketing millions from the alleged pork barrel scam. — JDS, GMA News
