CAYETANO TO BINAY: DAPAT TSALN MUNA BAGO TSONA

Show your true SALN first before talking about the True State of the Nation

“Bago sana siya naglabas ng tinatawag niyang True SONA, sana ay naglabas muna ang bise presidente ng kanyang True SALN.”

Vice President Jojo Binay and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano

This is what Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said in reaction to Vice President Jejomar Binay’s “true State of the Nation Address (SONA)” on Monday.

In a 42-minute speech which he delivered at the Cavite State University (CvSU) gymnasium, Binay expressed dismay over President Benigno Aquino III’s failure to include several issues and controversies in his own SONA last week.

Cayetano, for his part, took a swipe at the Vice President's decision to deliver a counter-SONA at a time when he himself is being tagged in several corruption issues.

"Ang bise presidente natin ay laging handang magsalita laban sa administrasyon. Sa tinatawag niyang true SONA, sinabi niyang pagkatapos ng limang taong paglilingkod ng Presidente, marami pa rin daw ang naghihirap at wagas na nangungurakot. Pinuna pa niya ang tapat at malinis na paglilingkod sa ilalim ng Daang Matuwid ng administrasyon,” Cayetano said.

“Nakapagtatakang naririnig natin ito mula sa bise presidente, samantalang siya mismo ay hindi pa sinasagot ang mga isyu ng korapsyon laban sa kanya at sa kanyang pamilya. Ang payo ko kay VP Binay, bago niya punahin ang pamamalakad ng iba, patunayan muna niyang hindi totoo ang mga bintang laban sa kanya, tulad ng isyu ng overpricing sa paggawa ng Makati City Hall Building II at Makati Science High School Building. Mas interesado ang taong marinig ito,” he added.

Cayetano then reiterated his call for the Vice President to explain the alleged discrepancies in his latest Statement of Assets, Liabilities, & Net Worth (SALN).

In his 2014 SALN, the Vice President declared that he has P38.843 million worth of cash on hand and in his bank accounts. But the testimonies of witnesses and the documentary evidence obtained in the hearings conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee revealed that Binay has over P600 million worth of cash deposited in several bank accounts jointly owned by him and his dummies.

“Up to now, he has not provided a clear-cut explanation regarding his alleged ill-gotten wealth. The public deserves transparency, the truth, & honest leaders who are accountable for their actions. VP Binay has given them nothing but motherhood statements and mere politicking,” the senator said.

The senator further questioned Binay's ulterior motives in criticizing the Aquino administration. He said the Vice President could simply be castigating the President's performance in order to divert the issue away from the corruption allegations against him.

“Panay ang banat ng bise presidente sa administrasyon. Pero hindi ba’t naging parte siya ng administrasyong ito sa loob ng limang taon? Sa panahong iyon, ano ba ang kongkretong nagawa niya bilang presidential adviser for OFWs, lalo na sa isyu ng human trafficking at labor concerns?”

“Isa lang ba itong panibagong uri ng diversionary tactic ng Binay camp para hindi matuon ang atensyon ng tao sa korapsyong kinakaharap ng kaniyang pamilya?” Cayetano quipped.#