Allegations vs Mercado reveal true Binay

The attack dogs of Vice President Jejomar Binay are so desperate to discredit former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, so that they do not realize that when they point the accusing finger at him, the remaining three are pointed at their master.

They forgot that if Mercado was able to amass ill-gotten wealth as vice mayor (a close and trusted ally who, according to Binay, “fed on his own hand”), the question props up: How much ill-gotten wealth and power will Binay grant to his vice president, family members and cronies when he becomes the president.

In exposing the unexplained wealth of his former close and trusted ally, Binay unmistakably showed an extension of his personality. He is one to tolerate the illegal acts of his lieutenants even though they may be prejudicial to the interest of the nation he is sworn to protect.

Also, it is more likely that the mayor got the lion’s share of the loot. The proof of the pudding is in the eating: Binay could afford to finance the establishment of his political dynasty which has produced the incumbent vice president, an incumbent senator, an incumbent congressman and the incumbent mayor of the country’s richest city; and the acquisition of posh residences and large estates.

Even if the Vice President were innocent of Mercado’s crimes, his failure to prevent them shows he is not fit to hold a higher office.

When Binay’s drumbeaters paraded the sins and ill-gotten wealth of Mercado, they inevitably announced: “Ganito kami sa Makati. Kapag nanalo kami, ganito rin kami sa bayan.”

—EUCLIDES G. FORBES,

forbesandsampayolawoffice@

yahoo.com