VP Binay - Heidi
Mendoza audit task force politically motivated; brains behind
demolition job “insecure”
By OVP Media
August 1, 2012
MANILA – 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."