Binay slams DILG for rising crime
THE CAMP of Vice President Jejomar Binay yesterday slammed the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for failing to curb crime despite its increasing budget.
Binay’s spokerson Joey Salgado said the DILG budget has increased under the Aquino administration, from P2.8 billion in 2010 to P16 billion this year, yet latest data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) showed that the crime rate in the first six months of the year had increased from that of the same period last year.
Records from the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) showed that theft, car theft, physical injuries and rape were among the crimes that had a huge increase, and that overall, 885,445 crimes were reported from January to June this year, compared to 603,085 cases during the same period last year.
Salgado said that DILG had focused its attention on projects “not within its core mandate and competency,” which included putting up houses, roads and water systems as part of such programs as the Informal Settlers Families Shelter and Sagana at Ligtas sa Tubig, when the DILG has no technical expertise for such projects.
Stick to core mandates
The Binay spokesperson added that under a Binay presidency, “departments and agencies will stick to their core mandates and expertise.” Interior Secretary Mar Roxas is seen as Binay’s main rival next year’s presidential elections.
Speaking to reporters in the Senate where he attended the Commission on Appointments meeting, the incoming interior secretary, Western Samar Rep. Mel Sarmiento, promised to implement the other programs of the department in the remaining months of the Aquino presidency.
Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) party meanwhile acknowl- edged President Aquino’s tour of provinces dubbed “Gathering of Friends” as within his prerogative and mandate, and could help him see the actual situation on the ground.
“But on the other hand, it will look like it’s early campaigning especially when his Cabinet members aspiring for senatorial seats are with him in the different provinces,” UNA spokesperson Mon Ilagan said.
Vice President Binay, who has made known his plan to seek the presidency in 2016, has himself been going around the country in recent months, often visiting marketplaces for a boodle session. In June, Binay visited Biliran province and distributed wheelchairs, medical equipment and supplies to the towns of Biliran, Naval, Kawayan, Culaba, Caibiran and Cabucgayan. Later in the day, the Vice President was joined for a meet-and-greet program by Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian, one of UNA’s presumptive candidates for senator.
Binay has since visited Pangasinan and Sultan Kudarat, among other provinces, and met with various sectors, including businessmen at a Makati hotel on Sept. 3.