‘Ombudsman probe on Binay daughter is persecution’

MANILA, Philippines - The investigation being conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman on Makati Rep. Mar-len Abigail Binay-Campos, daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, bolstered suspicions that the agency is being used to persecute political opponents, a spokesman for the Vice President said yesterday.

Joey Salgado, Binay’s spokesperson for media affairs, said they are not aware of any complaint filed or pending against Rep. Binay.

“We are not aware of any complaint filed or pending against Rep. Abby Binay so we can only assume that the Ombudsman is sending a not too subtle signal that the Binay children are now in their crosshairs,” Salgado said in a statement.

He said the action of the Ombudsman gives credence to their observation that government resources are being tapped to harass the Vice President, his family and those known to be close friends or have been associated with them.

“If this observation is true, this signals a reversal to the discredited practice of the past where the machinery of government is utilized against opponents. But this would not stop the Vice President from pursuing his vision of competent and caring government for all Filipinos,” Salgado said.

Deputy Ombudsman Gerard Mosquera has issued a subpoena to Lourdes Jayme, accounting service chief of the House of Representatives, seeking authenticated documents pertaining to Rep. Binay’s gross earnings as a congresswoman and her travel orders.

Critics of the Binays had accused the congresswoman of committing conflict of interest and graft by allocating millions in pork barrel funds to Makati City, whose incumbent mayor is her brother, and to a foundation organized by family friends.

Vice President Binay had earlier warned his friends that they, too, could fall victim to political persecution as shown in the ongoing Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee investigation into the various corruption allegations thrown against him.

The Vice President is currently facing plunder charges in connection with the alleged overpricing of at least one Makati building constructed when he was still city mayor.