Boy Scouts to clean up ranks if they find proof VP Binay used them

(Updated 1:14 p.m.) The leadership of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines expressed readiness Thursday to clean up their their ranks if they find  proof that Vice President Jejomar Binay used them for his personal gains.

 

This was after Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano asked if they have the political will to do it amid accusations against Binay on the alleged anomalous transaction between the BSP and Alphaland.

 

Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado earlier accused Binay of getting a P651-million kickback from the deal. Binay then allegedly used the money to fund his vice presidential bid in 2010.

 

“Will you have the political will to do what has to be done to cleanse the BSP? Two weeks ago, ang speech ni Vice President sa Cagayan de Oro, ang sabi nya humihingi sya ng patawad sa BSP kasi nadamay daw kayo sa paninira sa kanya. Iba yung sinisiraan ang BSP at iba ang ninakawan,” Cayetano said during the resumption of the Senate hearing on the allegations against Binay.

 

“We will be man enough to apologize to the BSP or to you gentlemen if it is proven na walang anomalya sa transaksyon na ito. But if there is, can we expect some political will na ayusin ang BSP? Bawiin ang property, rescind sa Alphaland and restore leadership. If and when it is 100% proven na nananakaw ang BSP, can our Boy Scouts rely on you?” he added.

 

Roberto Pagdangangan, a member of the BSP national executive board, said they will do it as part of their vow to uphold the virtues of the BSP.

 

“We have always lived by the tenets of scouting, we always support and operate by the scout laws. In all the years we have been here, I can say that we have always strived to protect the interest of scouting,” he said. 

 

He, however, upheld the transaction, saying the BSP benefitted from it. 

 

“This Alphaland (transaction), we maintain, the investment of P600 million out of this land donated to us, the amount and the benefits so far it indicated that it is a good investment. We will pursue a supplemental agreement to make sure that we will get the benefit that is due the Boy Scouts,” he said.

 

For his part, Marikina Mayor Del de Guzman, BSP vice president for Luzon, said that he will also uphold the best interest of Boy Scouts.

 

“For the record, kung mapatunayan man, nandito tayo para ibangon ang Boy Scout kung kinakailangan,” he said.

Losing end

"It also appears that the BSP is not reconciling and examined the records of the Alphaland Makati when it comes to the project," he added. — with Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/RSJ, GMA News