Grandstanding

IT is business as usual for the second most powerful man in the country. While the controversy about the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building II heats up, Vice President Jejomar Binay remains unfazed.
Amidst the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s on-site probe on the 11-story building on Monday, Sept. 1, Binay was busy fulfilling his duty as the head of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Center. He led the inauguration of a housing community for residents of Cagayan de Oro City affected by Typhoon Sendong.
Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Koko Pimentel, who led the ocular inspection were accompanied by engineers, an architect and a quantity surveyor, to get an expert’s opinion. According to their initial findings, the edifice is a “modern building of average standard.” Contrary to Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay’s claims that the P2.2 billion worth building is world-class, the inspectors did not see anything extraordinary—from the materials used to the finishing.
According to Binay’s camp, the Senate inquiry has still to present a concrete proof that the building is overpriced. So far, witnesses who took the stand “turned out to be duds.”
“What the materials used are the same ones reflected in the bill of materials, bidding was conducted, and that the Commission on Audit audited the entire process and rendered a finding that there was no overpricing,” said Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, Binay’s spokesperson for political affairs. “Outside these issues, they are subjective, biased statements,” he said of the ocular inspection’s findings.
An obvious frontrunner for the 2016 national elections, Binay sees the current streak of allegations against him and his family as a smear campaign to lower his chances to be the country’s next President.
In its most recent findings, Pulse Asia survey results showed that 41 percent of Filipinos consider Binay as their top choice for president. He thanked those who still believe in his standing as a leader, and that the recent poll results reflect his performance and preparedness to lead the nation.
Binay expects more complaints and accusations to be raised against him in the coming months. He, however, remains confident that these allegations will be dismissed. In the meantime, Binay remains focused on his work in the government.
“My commitment to advance the interest of our overseas Filipino workers, provide shelter for the poor, and assist our fellow Filipinos in need will remain undiminished by these false and politically motivated accusations,” Binay said in a statement.
Because the numbers are in his favor, Binay becomes an easy target for those who want to get ahead in the upcoming national elections—an early preview of the dirty world of politicking.
But are Filipinos even paying attention yet? Because of the continuous onslaught of political controversies, would-be voters might be turned off from politics rather than engaging them on.
(AJPress)