AN ADMINISTRATION lawmaker on Friday slammed the critics of its standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II, claiming they were all threatened by Roxas’ rising ratings that they would throw even the kitchen sink at him.
Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. said Roxas’ detractors “are playing the public for a fool by accusing him of resorting to black propaganda to discredit his rivals.”
He made his statement in response to accusations that Roxas and the ruling Liberal Party were the ones behind the disqualification cases that were filed against independent presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe.
Roxas has also been accused of masterminding the alleged smear campaign against Vice President Jejomar Binay, the standard-bearer of the United National Alliance, through the Senate’s investigation of his alleged ill-gotten wealth.
Barzaga said Roxas and the LP were being accused of being the brains behind the disqualification cases against Poe even if a link between the administration and the petitioners could not be clearly established.
He said Rizalito David, the one who filed the petition against Poe before the Senate Electoral Tribunal and later with the Commission on Elections, could not be traced to Roxas or the LP since he was identified with former Senator Francisco Tatad.
David was a former staff of Tatad, a top critic of the Aquino administration and is a known Binay ally.
Tatad himself filed a disqualification case against Poe before the Comelec last month, saying Poe violated the Constitution when she filed her certificate of candidacy for President.
He claims Poe is not a natural-born citizen as she has “unknown parents,” and that she failed to comply with the 10-year residency requirement to run for President.
Another petitioner against Poe was the former chief legal counsel of the Government Service Insurance System Estrella Elamparo who, Barzaga said, had no known political affiliations.
“They are filing the cases because they see that there are valid legal grounds especially pertaining to [Poe’s] citizenship and residency,” Barzaga said.
He reminded Roxas’ critics that Roxas even dared former Senator Richard Gordon to make good on his claim that the members of the LP had asked him to file a disqualification petition against Poe when she ran for senator in 2013 in exchange for her seat since Gordon finished 13th in the race.
“Secretary Mar asked Gordon to publicly name names but unfortunately no names [have been] given until now.” Barzaga said.