Binay, Roxas exchange tirades over 4Ps

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirants Vice President Jejomar Binay and Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel "Mar" Roxas II on Wednesday exchanged tirades over the administration's conditional cash transfer program.

In a campaign rally in Aurora province, Binay assured that he will continue the initiative, called the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), if he wins president.

"'Yung 4Ps ay ititigil daw ni Jojo Binay kapag (naging pangulo). Kasinungalingan po 'yan, 'wag po kayong maniwala d'yan. Ang totoo ay palalawakin ko pa ho ang 4Ps," Binay said.

On the other hand, Roxas questioned Binay's plan on the program.

"Sinasabi mo ngayon susuportahan mo ang 4Ps. Ang anak mo, ang mga kaalyado mo ang nag-criticize at humaharang dito sa 4Ps na ito. Ano ba talaga?" Roxas said in an ambush interview aired on television during his campaign in Bohol.

The administration bet was referring to the vice president's daughter, Sen. Nancy Binay. Roxas claimed that the senator was against the 4Ps.

The younger Binay, however, denied the claims of Roxas and stressed that she did not oppose the program.

"Walang katotohanan na I opposed it. In fact, I conducted a hearing kasi si Sen. Ralph Recto meron siyang proposed bill making 4Ps as a part of the budget already," Sen. Binay said in a separate interview.

Binay and Roxas earlier traded blows during one of the rounds of the presidential debate in Cagayan de Oro.

Roxas highlighted his anti-corruption efforts in fighting illegal drugs during his term as Interior Secretary. Binay hit back at Roxas and said that his enforcement was weak.

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