Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday said Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas is behind the 鈥渄emolition by perception鈥 plot to charge him of corruption.
In an ambush interview after a forum in the Ateneo de Manila University, Binay hit back at Roxas for claiming Binay is an expert on graft and corruption.
鈥淭alagang labis na nagpapatunay na si Mar Roxas ay kasama sa conspiracy ng demolition by perception, yung pagdidiinan at pagsisinungaling na ako ay expert sa graft and corruption,鈥 Binay said.
On Thursday, Roxas said Binay seemed to be using his personal experience when the latter explained the difference between graft and corruption at a student forum in Dumaguete City.
搁贰础顿:听Roxas says Binay 鈥榓n expert鈥 on graft, corruption
During the said forum聽Tuesday, Binay said that graft was the abusive use of power while corruption was about mishandling money.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good thing that he (Binay) explained the difference between graft and corruption because he is an expert on it. He probably has personal experience on聽it that鈥檚 why he knows the difference,鈥 Roxas said.
Binay鈥檚 camp said Binay was only speaking as a lawyer in explaining corruption.
鈥淭he 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,鈥 Quicho said.
Binay urged Roxas to answer the allegations that he as former Transportation and Interior Secretary failed to curb criminality and ease traffic woes.
鈥淎ng sagot namin, sagutin niya muna yung sinasabi naming pagkukulang niya. Hindi niya sinasagot eh. Binabaling niya sa pagbintang,鈥 Binay said.
In a statement聽Friday, Binay鈥檚 spokesperson Atty. Rico Quicho said Roxas does not respect the rule of law in making a statement about Binay鈥檚 supposed expertise in corruption.
Binay is under graft indictment by the Ombudsman for the alleged rigging and overprice of the Makati Parking Building II.
鈥淭his is something that is lost to Sec. Roxas and the LP administration, who do not respect the rule of law and twists the law to advance their narrow and selfish political agenda,鈥 Quicho said.
搁贰础顿:听Ombudsman finds probable cause to charge VP聽Binay聽with graft
Binay聽was indicted for graft by the Ombudsman for allegedly rigging the procurement for the design and construction of the P2.28-billion Makati City Hall Building II, deemed the country鈥檚 priciest car park building, when he was Makati mayor.
Binay聽also faces four other聽plunder聽and聽graft聽complaints聽before the Ombudsman over the alleged anomalies involving the Makati Science High School Building, University of Makati, a Fort Bonifacio property, and over an allegedly anomalous land deal between Alphaland and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, where聽Binay聽is long-running President.
Binay聽decried political harassment by his detractors who intend to derail his presidential bid.
搁贰础顿:听Binay聽appeals graft indictment, says it鈥檚 meant to ruin 2016 run