Spare us from controversy hounding VP Binay, Boy Scouts ask public

Published October 17, 2014 12:55pm

Spare us.

This was the appeal Friday of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines to the public amid the controversy hounding their national president, Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“On our part, as his colleagues at the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, we would like to appeal ... let us spare the BSP because it is not for the Vice President nor for us, but for the boys and girls who are members of it," lawyer Wendel Avisado, senior vice president and acting secretary general of Boy Scouts, told reporters.

Avisado was asked for the BSP's take on the allegations of corruption Binay was facing before the Ombudsman and the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee.

"Parang ang sistema kasi e dinadamay na lahat,” Avisado added.

Binay has been Boy Scouts national president for 14 years now.

Binay was the the guest of honor and speaker during the awarding ceremonies for the Ten Outstanding Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

Raps vs. Binays

At present, Binay, his son Makati Mayor Junjun Binay and 21 others are facing a plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman over the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II.

The Senate blue ribbon subcommittee is also conducting its own probe into the matter.

The elder Binay has repeatedly ignored invitations for him to attend the hearings, where he had been accused of employing alleged bid rigging and receiving 13 percent kickbacks from every government transaction during his term as mayor of Makati.

He had been also accused of owning a 350-hectare property in Rosario, Batangas.

The Vice President has since denied the allegations

Defend himself

Avisado said it will be the members who will suffer if the organization will be dragged into political issues.

But he stressed that it is up to the Vice President to defend himself.

“We understand the travails that he is facing because, whether he likes it or not, or we the electorate would like it or not, issues like these always come up and therefore, it’s really for him to prove otherwise,” he said.

Still, he believes there is no need for Binay to resign or take a leave from the organization, adding that they still trust the Vice President.

Avisado said the political issues against Binay should be separated from his role as national president of the organization.

“Kung meron sanang issue patungkol sa ginagawa niya sa scouting, probaby we can talk about that (his leaving the organization) pero wala naman e... Walang basis e kasi sa amin insofar as his leadership in the scouting movement is concerned, wala kaming issue or reklamo sa kanya,” he said.

“Oo naman kasi hiwalay ang scouting sa pulitika. His performance as president of the Boy Scouts is untainted, he has been president for the last 14 years. The fact that he is still leading, the members still have the trust and confidence in him,” he said.

Apolitical event

During the awarding ceremonies of the Ten Outstanding Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Binay, wearing his Scout uniform, refused to answer questions on politics.

"Sorry, this is an apolitical (event) nakauniporme naman ako e," he told reporters, adding, "Natutuwa kami na pang 25 taon na ng pagpili ng Outstanding Boy Scouts, yung mga dating napili ay pawang nagtagumpay sa kanilang mga chosen fields."

When a reporter asked Binay on his reaction regarding Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, he walked away.

In his speech, however, Binay, expressed hope that the accusations against him would not diminish Boy Scouts' trust in him.

"I hope that this would not affect your trust in me. This will come to pass soon, and you will see me in the bigger political arena, fighting Goliaths in an effort to become a part of a better future," he said.

"Expect more political fireworks and mud on my face in the days to come. But don’t worry, my friends. When you see me in this uniform, I am your brother Scout with the innocence of a boy who finds joy in the left handshake. No politics please," Binay added. — RSJ/NB, GMA News

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