Binay ‘hypocrite,’ his agencies got DAP funds, too

Budget Chief Florencio Abad says VP’s two housing agencies — NHA and HGC—received P11.450 B in DAP funds in October 2011

VICE President Jejomar Binay, who started attacking the Aquino administration after quitting from the Cabinet, is a hypocrite, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said yesterday.

The budget chief was specifically answering Binay’s criticism pertaining to the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), which was declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

“I find it hypocritical that he is ranting against DAP when two housing agencies he chaired, NHA (National Housing Authority) and HGC (Home Guaranty Corp.), received P11.450 billion in DAP funds in October 2011,” he told reporters in a text message.

He said that Binay never raised any issue when the two agencies received and used the funds.

“Why was it okay then, and not okay now when he is out of government? When was he telling the truth,” said Abad, the main proponent of DAP.

Abad also retorted Binay who was wondering why the budget chief was not being charged for DAP.

“Unfortunately, he does not understand or more likely refuses to understand the SC decision on DAP. The SC did not declare anyone guilty of any wrongdoing or graft. But in fact reiterated in a clearer manner the doctrine of operative fact, which presumes good faith in all the acts and decisions made in relation to DAP,” he said.

Binay resigned as housing czar and as presidential adviser for overseas Filipino workers affairs last Monday.

Two days after he quit from the Cabinet, he delivered a speech accusing the Aquino administration as numb and incompetent.

In an ambush interview, Binay said that in the previous Cabinet meetings, he felt that other members of the Cabinet treated him like a leper in the wake of the corruption allegations hurled against him and other members of his family.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, however, denied Binay’s allegation.

“With the utmost respect to the Vice President, the underdog image he tries to portray is a gross misrepresentation of what happens inside Cabinet meetings. The truth is, he is given all the respect due the second highest official in the land during Cabinet meetings,” he said in a text message to reporters. (SDR/Sunnex)