MALACAÑANG's call for the resignation of government officials identified with Vice President Jejomar Binay only showed that the present administration is putting premium on political ties and loyalties rather than competency and professionalism, the Binay camp said Sunday.
Joey Salgado, Binay's head of media affairs, said in a statement that they are saddened by Malacañang's continuous attacks on the Vice President, who severed ties with the Aquino administration last week.
Those working in the housing agencies that Binay used to head as the country's housing czar before he resigned from President Benigno Aquino III's Cabinet on June 22 were professionals from the private sector who gave up high-paying positions and chose to serve in government, Salgado said.
They include Home Guaranty Corp. president Manuel Sanchez, Pag-Ibig Fund president Darlene Berberabe, National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. president Felixberto Bustos Jr., Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board chief executive officer Antonio Bernardo and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council consultant Chito Borromeo.
"For five years they have labored quietly, instituting reforms in their agencies and fulfilling their mandate. Their accomplishments speak volumes," Salgado said.
"Yet they have been unjustly pilloried in the Senate hearings by their mere presence in agencies under the HUDCC (Housing Urban Development and Coordinating Council). And now, the Palace itself has joined the inquisition," he added.
The heads of housing agencies are presidential appointees while of the board members have fixed terms of office and some are co-terminus with the President.
Binay made recommendations based on individual qualifications and willingness to serve in government.
"Yet, the Palace is again adding up the so-called favors given to the Vice President," Salgado said.
On Saturday, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said it is a norm that if a Cabinet member resigned, the people whom he or she brought to the agency also quit their posts.
But Salgado lamented that Malacañang has once more looked at this issue as a favor to the Vice President, just like the fact that it allowed Binay to occupy the Coconut Palace for his office.
Salgado said that the administration sees everyone not a political ally or a member of the Liberal Party as its enemy.
On the other hand, friends of the administration allegedly continued to enjoy favors even amid controversies and irregularities.
"This discredited system of palakasan and patronage in government should stop," Salgado said. (CVB/SDR/Sunnex)