Binay calls for end to vindictiveness, selective justice

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay yesterday called for an end to vindictiveness and selective justice as he hoped for a more compassionate and responsive government in 2016.

“I pray that the New Year will usher in a new hope that the era of vindictiveness and selective justice will soon end,” he said in his New Year’s Day message.

Binay, a presidential candidate accused of amassing ill gotten wealth during his stint as Makati City mayor, has repeatedly criticized what he claimed was “selective justice” under the Aquino administration.

Binay and his allies have hit Malacañang’s alleged double standard in enforcing orders to suspend officials involved in anomalies.

He said that 2016 has been designated as the Holy Year of Mercy by Pope Francis.

“As Pope Francis declared, the Holy Year is a response to the world’s need for a ‘revolution of tenderness’ from which ‘justice and all the rest derives’,” he said. 

The Vice President said he also prays that every Filipino will reap the benefits of economic progress under the new administration. “A new hope that we will have a government that is just and compassionate and responsive to the needs of the poor and needy.”

“All of our so-called economic achievements mean nothing if these are not felt by everyone,” he added.

Binay also urged the electorate to choose competent leaders “who will build a truly benevolent nation that respects the dignity of all Filipinos,” and has vowed to be a “unifying leader” if he gets elected president in May. 

‘House to remain united, focused in 2016’

Meanwhile, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said yesterday that the House of Representatives will remain “united and focused on serving the highest welfare and interests of the Filipino people” in 2016 despite the limited time left for the 16th Congress.

 Belmonte pledged to maximize the remaining workdays to deal with significant business.

“We will never renege on our constitutional mandate to promote good governance and protect the national interest and our people’s welfare, despite the time constraint now faced by the 16th Congress,” he said.

Congress will resume session on Jan. 19 and go on a break in February to give way to the electoral campaign. It will resume session in May, but a significant portion of lawmakers’ work will be taken up in canvassing votes.

Despite time constraints, Belmonte expressed confidence that priority bills including the Bangsamoro Basic Law, the public-private partnership (PPP) bill and the amendments to the economic provisions of the Constitution would be passed within the term of the 16th Congress.

When Congress adjourned for the Christmas break last Dec. 16, he summed up the collective performance of the House as focused on quality and responsive legislation rather than on quantity.

He also thanked his colleagues from the majority coalition, minority and independents, for their cooperation and collective efforts in facing squarely the challenges of governance reforms and national development.

“We have been mindful of the demands and imperatives of our time as we have supported competitiveness-raising, job generation and more sustainable development through the policies we have enacted,” Belmonte said.

While noting that serious challenges were faced during the year 2015, the Speaker confidently surmised that the passing year’s positive developments outweighed them, stressing that we have “a House united and focused on serving the highest welfare and interests of our people.”

He said the 16th Congress was able to enact nearly 100 laws since 2013. – With Paolo Romero