Binay says Mar behind demolition job

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay said yesterday Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II’s latest jab at his being linked to alleged anomalies has bolstered his suspicion that the administration candidate is part of what he believes is a demolition campaign to destroy his presidential bid in 2016.

“He should answer first our claim that he failed to do his job (as transportation and local government secretary). He’s making accusations to divert the public attention from the real issues,” Binay told reporters in Filipino.

“His allegations only prove that Mr. Roxas is part of the demolition by perception waged against me,” the Vice President said.

Binay and Roxas attended a presidential forum on countryside development organized by Galing Pook Foundation at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City yesterday.

Binay was the first presidential candidate to deliver his speech. He later entertained questions from the floor.

Roxas arrived at the venue a few minutes after Binay had left.

Roxas on Thursday called Binay an “expert” in graft and corruption for using his “personal experience” in explaining the difference between graft and corruption.

“It’s a good thing that he (Binay) explained the difference between graft and corruption because he is an expert on it,” Roxas said in an interview.

Rico Quicho, Binay’s spokesman for political affairs, also chided Roxas for not understanding and respecting the rule of law.

“The Vice President was speaking as a lawyer. The difference between graft and corruption is something clear to lawyers and those who understand and respect the law,” Quicho said.