On Binay incident: ‘Videos do not lie’

The Nov. 30 standoff in Dasmariñas Village between Mayor Junjun Binay and security guards was a very sad spectacle. The latter were just performing their regular duties, following late-night subdivision security policy.

Unknown to Mayor Binay and elder sister Sen. Nancy Binay, the entire incident was being recorded by closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) of both North Forbes Park and Dasmariñas Village.

No amount of excuses, denials and squid-tactic press releases from the Binay family can alter the truth. Unlike politicians, videos do not lie. Thanks to the Inquirer, the whole truth and nothing but the truth came out.

Then came Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, the father, fresh from a trip to South Africa and

apparently uninspired by President Nelson Mandela’s honor and integrity, declaring that his son “deserved courtesy,” as he called the Inquirer report “distorted.” It is appalling enough to see on video a senator standing by and doing nothing as her younger brother abuses his position; worst of all, a vice president demanding courtesy and the suspension of a rule for his erring mayor-son.

Is this the kind of family aspiring to be the First Family? What happens if, God forbid, Jejomar Binay becomes president in 2016? Ganito kami ngayon sa Makati. Magiging ganito ba tayo sa buong bansa? What a frightening scenario.

Allow me please to remind this family of a pertinent provision of our Constitution in Section 1, Article XI which says, “Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.”

In addition, acts of oppression such as what were recorded of the Nov. 30 incident in CCTVs are punishable as mandated by the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The Office of the Ombudsman can motu proprio conduct its own investigation, and when evidence so warrants can put Mayor Binay in preventive suspension and prosecute him, together with all those involved.

Traveling in a convoy of four to five luxury SUVs with blinkers close to midnight, demanding courtesy and exemption from the rule, berating private security guards while security aides cock their guns and later ordering the guards’ arbitrary arrest and detention, do not seem to be in keeping with the constitutional provision on accountability of public officials.

Public interest demands that the national government or agencies concerned cause the investigation of this dastardly act in order to send the correct signal to all abusive local officials acting like dictators in their cities and municipalities.

After all, this is the right path, the daang matuwid that we, the people, expect of the reformist administration of President Aquino.

—BOBBY BRILLANTE,

former councilor and vice mayor,

Makati City; freelance radio broadcaster, dwBL 1242 AM Radio and convenor,

Campaign for Public Accountability, [email protected]