Senatorial bet calls Nancy Binay an ‘elitist’

TEAM PNoy senatorial candidate Jamby Madrigal on Thursday said United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) bet Nancy Binay has no right to cry foul over immigration officials' attempt to prevent her mother, Elenita, from leaving the country due to a pending graft case.

"No one is above the law. For one who wants to become a lawmaker, she should be the last to say that. Just because she is the wife of the Vice President, why should she be given special privileges? This smacks of elitism on the part of Nancy Binay. Sobra naman siyang elitist," Madrigal said in a statement.

"She should not demand special treatment and privileges for her mother, just because she is the wife of the Vice President," Madrigal added.

In response, Nancy Binay said she can never be elitist because she is not a member of the old-rich Madrigal clan and eats galunggong, considered a poor man's fish.

She said that all of her mother's travels have been approved by the Sandiganbayan and the recent one to the Vatican was no different.

Apparently, she said the Bureau of Immigration was not immediately informed about the court's clearance.

Nancy Binay earlier called on critics not to drag her mother's name into the campaign as she advised Madrigal to verify information. She said the airport incident was part of a demolition job on her father, UNA leader and Vice President Jejomar.

"Nakakalungkot na ginagamit niya ang nanay ko para mapag-usapan din siya (Madrigal is using my mother to draw attention)," she said.

Unlike Nancy, Madrigal has yet to enter the so-called Magic 12 in pre-election surveys.

Meanwhile, Madrigal also questioned the authority of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, who allowed Mrs. Binay to leave when it was the Sandiganbayan who has the sole authority to lift the hold departure order (HDO).

On Monday, the Bureau of Immigration initially stopped Mrs. Binay at the airport over the HDO but she was eventually allowed to leave after the Vice President made a phone call, reports say.

"Only the Sandiganbayan has the authority to lift a Hold-Departure Order on a respondent of a graft case. Perhaps, Secretary De Lima should explain whether she exceeded her authority when she got herself involved in a judicial matter overruling a hold departure order of the Sandiganbayan," Madrigal said.

The Vice President represented the Philippines in the installation and inaugural mass of Pope Francis in the Vatican. Apart from his wife, his son, Makati Mayor Jun-Jun Binay, was also part of the trip.

Mrs. Binay is facing graft charges in connection with alleged bidding anomalies in the purchase of furniture for the Makati City Hall during her term as mayor. (Kathrina Alvarez/Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)