9 points VP Binay made in his speech

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Jejomar Binay delivered a 20-minute address on Thursday afternoon to answer the allegations of corruption in Makati City while he was still its mayor.

Below are important points he made in his much-awaited speech:

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He experienced poverty. He was orphaned at a young age and worked while he was studying until he became a human rights lawyer who fought for democracy under the Marcos regime.

Natuto akong humarap sa hirap ng buhay.

While mayor of Makati, all residents received the government's care and attention, he said. Young people enter school with free books and uniform, while the elderly enjoy free cinema, birthday cakes and cash allowance.

 Sa Makati, lahat ng mamamayan ay tumatanggap ng pagkalinga sa pamahalaan na nakikinig at umuunawa sa kanila.

The birthday cakes given to Makati senior citizens were previously alleged as overpriced before the Senate Blue Ribbon hearing.

Nang makita sa mga dokumento na P300 lamang ang birthday cake, sinabi na siya ay nagkamali lamang.

The National Statistics Office data used as basis to say the controversial Makati City Hall building 2 is overpriced is unreliable and cannot be used as evidence.

Ang NSO na mismo ang nagsabi na hindi tamang batayan ang kanilang estima.

Ignoring direct testimonies by witnesses at the Senate hearing, Binay said there is no evidence that the project bidding was rigged.

Hubad na salita lamang dahil walang dokumentong ipinakita o pinanghahawakan.

The allegations cannot stand in court, only in the Senate hearing, which Binay called like a circus.

Wala sa mga pinangangalandakan nilang testimonya ang tatayo sa isang hukuman ng batas. At dahil hindi tatayo sa hukuman ng batas, ipinalalabas nalang nila sa mala-circus na pagdinig sa Senado.

It does not mean that if the vice mayor earned kickbacks from projects, the mayor did too.

Ito ang tinatawag naming mga abogado na hearsay or sabi-sabi lamang.

Senators in the hearing did not treat current Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay, his son, with respect.

Marangal siyang humarap ... tinuring siyang walang alam at walang karapatang magpaliwanag.

All Makati projects went through strict scrutiny, especially by the Commission on Audit.

Sa loob ng sampung taon, sampung audit ang kanilang ginawa, pero wala silang nakitang anomalya.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, among the personalities in the Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee inquiry on the alleged overpricing of the Makati building project reacted to Binay's speech, accusing him of campaigning for the presidency too early in the game.

Cayetano also denied that there is no evidence pointing to possible corruption under Binay's watch.

"Hindi totoong walang ebidensya dahil direct testimony ito," Cayetano said in an interview with reporters aired on radio shortly after Binay's address. "Hindi natin puwedeng sabihin na dahil may magagandang proyekto ka ay hindi ka corrupt."

He also said even if Binay is indeed an honest public servant, he should still be held accountable for the anomalies under his administration.

"Are you corrupt or are you incompetent? Hindi mo puwedeng sabihin na competent ka tapos ang mga ito ay nangyayari habang nakaupo ka," Cayetano said.

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