Keh’s ‘selective reading’ of VP Binay

HARVEY KEH is the same partisan, self-righteous and self-proclaimed advocate of good governance who never misses the chance to hit Vice President Jejomar Binay, even if the facts are not on his side (Inquirer, 1/1/13).

Last year, the same Keh told a TV news team that the transfer of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) from the Philippine National Bank to the Coconut Palace was a waste of taxpayers’ money, ignoring the fact that by moving, the OVP saved the taxpayers close to half-a-million pesos in rentals and helped preserve a heritage structure. This goes to show that Keh is selective in reading items concerning the Vice President, opting to amplify only those that are aligned with his own views.

The Vice President’s candid views on the suspension of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia are intended to caution the ruling party—and this includes cohorts like Keh—against repeating the errors of the past as this could undermine President Aquino’s reform agenda and the legacy of good governance that the President intends to be remembered for. The Vice President fears that the perception of abuse of power could impact negatively on the people’s support for the President.

This is personal to Vice President Binay. He endured political persecution during the previous administration because he belonged to the opposition. This is something he does not wish on others, regardless of their political loyalties.

In an earlier letter to this newspaper, the law office of Yorac, Arroyo, Chua, Caedo and Coronel identified the core issues in the suspension of Governor Garcia (and the suspension in 2006 of the Vice President), namely due process and the issue of timing, the question of the penalty, the question of courtesy, and the issues of equal protection and fairness.

Keh is advised to read this letter for his enlightenment. However, he seems to hold a different definition of due process. This was displayed during last year’s impeachment trial of then Chief Justice Renato Corona when Keh brought to the Senate—with media in tow—an envelope ostensibly left at the door of his office, which he claimed contained documents vital to the trial but without ascertaining their authenticity. For this, he was sternly reprimanded by the senator-judges.

—JOEY SALGADO,

spokesman and head,

Media Affairs Division,

Office of the Vice President