Ombudsman hit for double standard in fast-tracking cases

Sen. Nancy Binay yesterday scored the Office of the Ombudsman anew for its alleged double standard in fast-tracking the filing of graft charges against perceived enemies of Malacañang and dropping charges against administration allies.

Binay noted how the Ombudsman cleared Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya of graft charges related to the anomalous multimillion-dollar contract to maintain the Metro Rail Transit-3, when the same office slapped her brother Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay with two suspension orders.

The Office of the Ombudsman first suspended Mayor Binay last March over an allegedly anomalous contract in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II.

The Ombudsman issued a second suspension order against Mayor Binay on Monday last week in connection with the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Science High School building.

The suspended mayor stepped down last Wednesday, ending a three-day standoff between his supporters and the police. His supporters had barricaded city hall to prevent his eviction by police, but Mayor Binay said he chose to step down to prevent people from being hurt.

Sen. Binay also cited the Ombudsman’s dismissal of the graft case filed against Senate President Franklin Drilon in connection to the alleged anomalous construction of the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC).

Drilon is chairman of the ruling Liberal Party, while Abaya is a member of LP.

“Maybe you should ask Ombudsman (Conchita Carpio) Morales why is that when it comes to the Liberal Party, charges are dropped. And this is not the first time, if you remember what happened with the ICC, the graft case was dismissed swiftly. And now Secretary Abaya is cleared. They have a common denominator; they are members of the Liberal Party,” Sen. Binay said over dzBB.

The senator also refuted the statement of Morales that the decision to dismiss Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and other police officials in relation to the anomalous courier contract of the PNP debunks the Binay camp’s allegation of selective justice.

Sen. Binay claimed that Purisima is known to be not in good terms with another top LP executive.