De Lima to Binay: Why belittle our 'pork' scam probe?

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay should support instead of dismissing government agencies' investigation on the "pork barrel" scam, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said.

"[The vice president] is entitled to his opinion and I respect his opinion. But it saddens me that instead of encouraging us to further strengthen evidence, he should encourage us to pursue what we are doing now," De Lima said in a state news report.

Binay called the statements of Ruby Tuason a "dud" to counter De Lima's description of the new state witness' affidavit "slam dunk evidence" against Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile.

The plunder respondents are Binay's political allies.

De Lima said, however, that she finds Binay's views puzzling as he should be encouraging state investigators to pursue the case.

"Hindi ba ho dapat tayo ay, you know, to pray and hope na meron talagang mangyari sa mga kasong ito, so dapat po sinusuportahan po kami, ini-encourage po kami, hindi po 'yung pinagtatawanan or being scoffed at?" she asked, addressing Binay.

Malacañang, meanwhile, had also brushed aside Binay's evaluation of Tuason's testimony.

Press Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said it was up to the investigators and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales--and not Binay--to appreciate the value of such statement.