Vice President Jejomar C. Binay has branded as “politically motivated” the on-going audit of all projects during his term as Makati Mayor being undertaken by a task force formed reportedly upon the behest of Commission on Audit Commissioner Heidi Mendoza.
The Vice President said the Mendoza audit is part of a demolition campaign against him by those who are “insecure” because of his high survey ratings and who see him as a threat to their own presidential plans in 2016.
“By that time, ‘di ko naman tinatanggi sa inyo na ako ay magkakandidato. Eto nga, hindi pa nga ako kandidato winawasak na ko. Siguro dala na rin ito ng survey, nai-insecure sila sa lumalabas na survey,” he said.
The Vice President said it was “not normal” that issues that have already been answered and clarified in previous audits are being resurrected. He added that the projects being audited have already passed previous audits.
“Hindi naman maitatangging politically motivated ito. Biruin mo naman iyon, normally, Mayor pa lang ako pinasasagot na sa akin iyon, sinagot ko naman,tinanggap naman iyong paliwanag, heto na naman pinalalabas pang (new) initiative,” Binay told reporters during separate interviews Tuesday afternoon.
“Kung maya’t maya ay binabalikan ka ng issue, hindi na yata normal iyon. Mayroon nang ibang dahilan,” he added.
“Noong Mayor pa po ako, issue na sa amin iyon, ipinaliwanag na namin iyon, na-clear na po iyon,” he added.
The Vice President also took note of negative statements made by Mendoza against him, noting that the Commissioner had headed several special audit teams during the Arroyo administration.
The findings of the Mendoza team served as the basis for the filing of a case against former Makati Mayor Elenita Binay, the Vice President’s wife, but it was dismissed by the Sandiganbayan for lack of factual basis. Other COA findings also served as basis for complaints before the Ombudsman against the Vice President but they were also dismissed.
“Sabagay, iyon naman ang talagang pinagsasabi ni Commissioner Mendoza, na talagang isa kami sa bubusisiin niya. Dahil sa iyong kanyang mga kaso sa amin, kaso sa akin hindi naman ako na-convict,” Binay said.
He added that the Mendoza audit was consistent with information received of a demolition job against him, with December as the target month where “he will be gone.”
Binay refused to identify the people behind the moves against him.
“Ayoko nang sagutin iyan. Ang sasabihin ko lang sa inyo, talagang may dumadating sa akin (na impormasyon). Iyang demolition, sa Disyembre mawawala na daw ako, hindi ko alam kung anong ibig sabihin ng mawawala,” he said.
When asked by a reporter whether “mawawala” meant that he will also be removed by impeachment, the Vice President replied, “Baka. So, tingnan natin.”
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