By Josine Estuye
MANILA, (PNA) -– Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday said he is hoping there will be no politics involved in the plunder charges filed against lawmakers involved in the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam.
Binay made the statement, amid speculations the Dept. of Justice is politically motivated in choosing the opposition lawmakers as first batch to be subjects of inquiry in the pork barrel scam investigation.
“Katakataka lamang kasi yung inilabas [na reklamo]. Although sinabi nilang first batch ‘yon, pero ‘yong first batch puro hindi kaibigan ng administration. ‘Yon ang malungkot dun,” Binay said in an interview in Tanauan, Leyte.
The vice president said he expects the Dept. of Justice will file more charges but hopes that they will not focus on members of the opposition alone.
“Sana wag naman para di manatili ang bintang o speculation na ang tinatarget ay opposition,” Binay said.
He also called on to the Filipino people to refrain from judging the accused and instead give them a chance to prove their innocence.
“Ang sabi ng batas d’yan they are presumed to be innocent until otherwise convicted,” Binay said.
Meanwhile, the vice president also clarified that his relationship with President Benigno Aquino III remains in good terms, despite accusations that he did not inform the president regarding the peace talks with the Moro National Liberation Front.
“I was given the authority to meet Chairman Nur Misuari. I called up the President after I received a call from a conduit of chairman Nur Misuari. Sinabi ko sa kanya I was being invited by Chairman Nur Misuari, na kami ay mag-usap,” he said.
“Aba eh magkaibigan kami nun (the President). Pagkabata pa lang magkakasama na kami nun. Sa hirap at ginhawa magkasama kami nun. Sa lahat ng coup sa panahon ng nanay nya magkakasama kami nun, at ako hindi naman magkakaganito kung hindi dahil sa pamilya Aquino,” he added.