VICE President Jejomar Binay, who started attacking the Aquino administration after quitting from the Cabinet, is a hypocrite, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said Friday.
The Budget chief was specifically answering Binay's criticism pertaining to the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), which was declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
"I find it hypocritical that he is ranting against DAP when two housing agencies he chaired, NHA (National Housing Authority) and HGC (Home Guaranty Corp.), received P11.450 billion in DAP funds in October 2011," he told reporters in a text message.
He said that Binay never raised any issue when the two agencies received and used the funds.
"Why was it okay then, and not okay now when he is out of government? When was he telling the truth," said Abad, the main proponent of DAP.
Abad also retorted Binay who was wondering why the Budget chief was not being charged for DAP.
"Unfortunately, he does not understand or more likely refuses to understand the SC decision on DAP. The SC did not declare anyone guilty of any wrongdoing or graft. But in fact reiterated in a clearer manner the doctrine of operative fact, which presumes good faith in all the acts and decisions made in relation to DAP," he said.
Binay resigned as housing czar and as presidential adviser for overseas Filipino workers affairs last Monday. Two days after he quit from the Cabinet, he delivered a speech accusing the Aquino administration as numb and incompetent.
In an ambush interview, Binay said that in the previous Cabinet meetings, he felt that other members of the Cabinet treated him like a leper in the wake of the corruption allegations hurled against him and other members of his family.
"Itong mga bandang huli na nga kasama na ito siguro ng resulta ng panggigipit, at sabihin ko lang sa inyo ha, lalung-lalo na na kalat na kalat na at ikinakalat ng mga kalaban ko sa pulitika na ako ay ipaaaresto. Alam mo para kang may ketong doon sa Cabinet meeting," the Vice President said.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, however, denied Binay's allegation.
"With the utmost respect to the Vice President, the underdog image he tries to portray is a gross misrepresentation of what happens inside Cabinet meetings. The truth is, he is given all the respect due the second highest official in the land during Cabinet meetings," he said in a text message to reporters.
"He feels left out? As (Local Government) Secretary (Manuel) Mar Roxas (II) mentioned, he is the only Vice President in Philippine history who was given an official residence by sitting President," he said.
Binay is having office at the Coconut Palace in Pasay City.
"As the President (Benigno Aquino III) mentioned, he was given HUDCC (Housing Urban Development and Coordinating Council) portfolio but when he requested for the OFW portfolio, the President also acceded to his request," Lacierda said.
"I thought his spokesperson just said he did not want to wash his dirty linen in public. Does this not qualify as washing dirty linen in public?"
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that the Palace would no longer be surprised if criticisms against the administration by Binay and his allies would intensify in the coming days until elections in May 2016. (SDR/Sunnex)