THE Palace challenged Vice President Jejomar Binay Thursday to provide sufficient data to back his claim that the administration of President Benigno Aquino III was a “failure, callous” and “lazy, slow and tentative.”
A day after Binay hurled those accusations at the launch of his United Nationalist Alliace (UNA) as a political party, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. enumerated the gains made by the administration as a way to refute the Vice President.
He said accusations must be based on concerete evidence, not opinions or rhetoric.
“Filinos are intelligent and are looking for concrete evidence. They cannot be duped or be influenced by emotional statements,” Coloma also said.
“President Aquino has built on the platform of good governance. The Aquino administration has brought forth a government that is open, transparent and accountable. The Aquino administration stands on its record of good governance that has transformed Philippine society and restored the Filipinos’ sense of pride and dignity,” said Coloma.
Binay tore into the Aquino administration Wednesday for failing to solve the country’s problems, including widespread poverty and the worsening state of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) system.
Binay also criticized the administration for supposedly being lazy, slow and tentative.
Coloma countered that the government was diligent, prompt and organized.
He said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and its local counterparts have always been ready to address the challenges posed by calamities with their goal of zero casualties—even though the administration was roundly criticized for failing to act promptly to bring rescue and relief to victims of super typhoon Yolanda in 2013, which killed at least 6,300 people
Coloma also cited the government’s ability to save funds, citing the Department of Public Works and Highways that was able to save P49 billion through efficient work on infrastructure projects.
He also said the government allocated 37 percent of the national budget in 2015 or almost P1 trillion for social development and poverty reduction, playing up the government’s massive dole program for the poor.
Coloma also cited the May 2015 survey findings of the Social Weather Stations that showed fewer Filipinos rated themselves poor, or said they experienced hunger in the last three months.
While challenging Binay, Coloma said the Vice President performed well as a Cabinet member in the last five years.
“He (Binay) served as vice president during the almost last five years, and was a representative of President Aquino in different international state functions. He was also a member of the Cabinet of the President,” Coloma said.
“During the past, it is in the public records that President Aquino commended Vice President Binay in his work in the housing sector. There was not any record about any bad commentary regarding what he did for the OFW (overseas Filipino workers) where he served as presidential adviser,” he added.
Coloma also said that this good record may be a basis for an objective assessment of the citizens when the Vice President decides to file his certificate of candidacy.
Coloma also said that based on the principle that “Cabinet members serve at the pleasure of the President,” Binay was able to stay in the Cabinet for five years, and gave the President no reason to lose his confidence in him.
