Mar calls Binay the expert in graft and corruption

Administration standard-bearer Mar Roxas said yesterday that Vice President Jejomar Binay is the right person in authority to explain the difference between graft and corruption, in what is described to be the boldest attack against his main critic and fellow presidential bet.

“It’s a good thing that he explained about graft and corruption because he’s the expert,” said Roxas when asked to comment about reports that Binay differentiated graft and corruption before students of Silliman University in Negros Oriental.

Binay was quoted as saying that graft involves abuse of power while corruption is about mishandling of money. He added that allegations being hurled against him were neither graft nor corruption.

Binay is being accused of pocketing billions of money in connection with the alleged anomalous transactions when he was still the mayor of Makati City which include the construction of the Makati City Hall, as well as the construction of the Makati City Science High School and procurement of hospital equipment.

“Let us accept his explanation. It is better that he explained it because he may have a personal experience about graft and about corruption,” said Roxas.

For his part, Roxas said he is totally against corruption and even vowed to send as many government officials to jail if elected as president.

“Let the experts explain and talk about graft and corruption, for me, I am against it. It’s a sin to steal money from the public fund,” said Roxas.

Roxas, however, said that he is not singling out Binay on the issue of corruption and his commitment to send as many grafters to jail.

The Liberal Party standard-bearer, it was recalled, is pushing for the continuity of the programs and projects of the Aquino administration which was able to send a former President and three incumbent senators to jail.

“There’s nothing personal to it. There’s a legal process and if they are found guilty, then they must go to jail,” said Roxas.

Roxas was the guest speaker in yesterday’s turnover of 134 units of onsite relocation for hundreds of informal settlers who lost their homes in a San Juan City fire in 2012.