Binay battles the Ombudsman

Vice President Jejomar Binay’s accusation of “selective justice” against the Aquino administration flies in the face of recent directives by the Office of the Ombudsman involving various personalities of different political stripes.

Take the flurry of political events last week.

Presidential BFF, resigned PNP Director General Alan Purisima, was sacked and ordered dismissed from the service, along with Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta, a leading contender for the top PNP post, and eight other police officers.

President Aquino’s bosom buddy and his cohorts face a disgraceful exit with the forfeiture of their retirement benefits and permanent disqualification from public office. Charges of grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct and serious dishonesty for allegedly entering into an anomalous contract with a courier service in delivering overpriced gun licenses will be filed against them.

Criminal charges were also ordered filed against known administration allies, former Bureau of Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon and Energy Regulation Commission Chairman Zenaida Ducut, plus four other former members of the House of Representatives, before the Sandiganbayan.

The anti-graft agency found probable cause to indict the former lawmakers for graft, malversation of public funds and direct bribery. They comprise the second batch of pork-barrel fund scam cases filed by the Department of Justice through the National Bureau of Investigation.

Then, we watched with bated breath as the Vice President’s son, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, stepped down from the seat of power following a second suspension order. For the first time in almost 30 years, the premier city’s chief executive does not have the last name, Binay.

With the Ombudsman training its guns on erring officials from both sides of the political fence, VP Binay, who was practically frothing at the mouth when he spoke at a press conference shortly after resigning from the Cabinet, is hard-pressed to prove his allegation of “selective justice.”

This recent turn of events reinforces the notion that Binay is just making up all sorts of excuses to deflect charges that his family and associates reportedly amassed billions of pesos from kickbacks in the construction of overpriced building projects in Makati City.

With the younger Binay’s preventive suspension, a full and impartial investigation on the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II and the Makati Science High School building projects can be conducted without any undue influence from a sitting mayor.

Last week’s events show us that at least one part of the government is working. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has been an impregnable wall of rectitude and strength. We laud the former Supreme Court associate justice for her uncompromising stand on graft and corruption. Let the chips fall wherever they may.

The combative Morales is just what the doctor ordered, so to speak, in curing the malevolent disease that has weakened our political system. She has earned the respect of those who are fed up with the litany of alleged large-scale looting and thievery in government.

Not the type to suffer fools gladly, Morales is forthright, decisive and direct. Her fiery temper has led her to utter less-than-civil language at times (Nabubwisit na talaga ako, ha!), but we cheer her on because it just shows she will not take crap from anybody.

Her language resonates with the ordinary man on the street. It echoes the frustration and anger of the common wage-earner whose taxes are automatically deducted from his pay, only to read in the papers that it is being pocketed by shameless government officials committing anomalies with impunity.

The battle against graft and corruption is a long and arduous process. We need people with bravery, integrity and perseverance.

With all due respect to crooner Frank Sinatra, ‘Ol Blue Eyes himself, this lady is a champ.