VP Binay marks first year of Senate probe

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday marked the first year of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee’s ongoing probe into alleged anomalies in Makati City with a street Mass in Barangay Pembo with members of his family and groups of senior residents.

The Mass held at Amapola Street coincided with the Senate subcommittee’s hearing on Thursday on the alleged “ghost senior residents” of Makati who continue to receive benefits from the city government such as monthly allowances.

Speaking to the groups of senior residents after the Mass, Binay thanked them for their support as he slammed the Senate hearing which he likened to a “teleserye” or a television drama series.

“Nagpapaabot ako ng pasasalamat sa nakaisip na sa araw na ito ay magkaroon po tayo ng Misa na matatama pa naman sa araw na ito ay tuloy ang teleserye sa Senado,” he said.

“Ang Misa na ito ay napgpapakita na tayo ay ‘di nawawalan ng pagtitiwala sa Panginoon na darating din ang panahon na lalabas din ang katotohanan at magiging matingkad ang kasinungalingan na pinagsasabi laban sa akin at sa aking pamilya,” he added.

Binay told the crowd of supporters who were all clad in white “Binay” printed t-shirts that he had prayed during the Mass that all the lies being thrown against him and his family would soon stop.

“Ngayong umagang ‘to, kasama sa dinasal ko na sana matapos na po ‘tong pagsisinungaling na ‘to at manaig naman ang katotohanan. At sa pagsasama-sama nating ito ay sama-sama tayong nagsasabi na lalabanan po natin ang mga masasamang sinasabi at matapos na po ang kasinungalingan. May kasabihan nga po dyan na the triumph of evil can only happen if the good people will not do anything,” he said.

Binay also called on his senior resident supporters to help him counter what he said are lies about the “ghost” senior resident beneficiaries. He also denied the existence of the so-called “ghost” senior residents saying that a strict process is being followed before any senior resident in the city becomes qualified to receive benefits.

Binay added that all senior residents in Makati City who are receiving benefits are properly verified through annual audits.

“Kailangan po ay ikalat natin kung ano po talaga ang tunay na nangyari at nangyayari dito sa Makati.  Alam nyo, ‘tong mga senador ay magpripresinta ng mga sinasabing hindi totoo o wala na talaga ditong senior citizens. May proseso naman. ‘Di ka naman pwedeng basta-basta ay maging senior citizen beneficiary. Kailangan makita yung warm body. Tinutulungan tayo ng mga opisyales. Biro mo, kung may lalabas na ‘di naman tunay na senior citizen, o hindi naman taga rito, e mawawalan naman po yung mga dapat tumanggap,” he said.

“Almost every year, nag check ang COA (Commission on Audit) kung andiyan nga yung matanda. Ngayon meron lang isang magsasalita na siya ay hindi tagarito o patay na po yung mga nabigyan ay kasalanan na po at mali na po lahat ang mga pangyayari. Wala naman pong ganunan,” he added.

Binay also dismissed allegations that he had pocketed P100 million that were supposed to go to senior residents of the city as benefits. Binay said the city’s fund for the benefits of its qualified senior residents is just about P150 million.

“Ang palalabasin nila, ang nawawala daw po ay P100 million. Yun mga ipriprisinta nila ay wala pa yatang lima o sampu. Yun ba hong sasabihin nun ay katunayan sa mga nangyayari sa senior citizens? Hindi po totoo yun. Kunsabagay, yun ang style nila. Magsasabi ng konti. Eto na naman tayo. P100 million daw. Ako ang nakikinabang. Pano ko makikinabang dun e ang budget dun ay P150 million lang.  Ano? Wala na hong nakinabang dyan?,” he said.

Binay explained that what may have appeared as “ghost senior residents” are not really residents of Makati City but teachers and city hall employees who have rendered work for the city but are not residents. Binay said that as they have rendered service to the city, they are qualified to receive benefits given to senior residents.

“Kung sakali man na ‘di dapat tumanggap, e sa malamang ay mga maestro o yung mga nagtratrabaho sa city hall o nagtratrabaho sa barangay na hindi taga-Makati, ay tatanggap din ng biyaya. Kayo po ang itinuturo na hindi taga-Makati pero tumatanggap. Kasi yan po ang pagpapatuloy noong sinasanbi kong utang na loob,” he said.

Binay also rallied his “senior” supporters to help him counter the lies about the city’s senior citizen benefits program and confront those who he said is spreading the lies.

“Ewan po natin kung paano sasabihin yung masama sa senior citizens. Ang pakiusap ko pa sa inyo, e samantalahin po ninyo ang lahat ng pagkakataon na sabihin na hindi po totoo yang mga paratang na yan at panay kasinungalingan po yan. Yung pong mga niniwala sa mga sinasabing pagsisinungaling, ay ating harapin,” he said.

Binay said the lies being circulated are part of the “destruction by perception” being hurled against him and his family to derail his plans for the presidential derby next year.

“Yung pong ginagawa sa akin at sa aking pamilya ay destruction or demolition by perception. Huwag po kayong magalala. Hindi po ako aatras sa laban na ito. Wala pong taga-Makati na umaatras sa laban,” he told the crowd.

In a statement, Joey Salgado, the Vice President’s spokesman said Makati’s senior residents must apply personally at city hall and submit the needed documents before they are admitted into the city’s benefits program.

“They go through verification. Benefits are received personally. The Social Welfare Department has a system to delist deceased beneficiaries. Assuming without conceding the existence of fake beneficiaries, where is the evidence to show any link to the Vice President? None, because this is another tall tale,” Salgado said in a statement.

Salgado added that senior citizens who have moved to other localities but who remain registered voters of Makati remain enrolled in the program.