Palace says DOJ’s inquiry on Binays within its mandate

Department of Justice. Photo courtesy of doj.gov.ph

MANILA — The Palace said it supports the investigation being done by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Binay family noting that the department is just doing its mandate.

“Si Secretary (Leila) de Lima po at ang DOJ ay ginagawa lang naman ang kanilang mandato—klaruhin po natin ‘yon—dahil, katulad po ng nabanggit natin last week, mahirap naman pong mayroong nagiging isyu na hindi nila ginagawa ang kanilang mandato (Sec. De Lima and DOJ are simply doing their mandate–let’s make that clear–because, like what has been said last week, it’s difficult when there’s an issue that they’re not doing their mandate),” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview Saturday.

“The DOJ is only executing its mandate; and as such, siyempre, sinusuportahan natin ang DOJ at ang kahit anong ahensya na ginagawa lamang ang kanilang trabaho (of course, we’re supporting the DOJ and any other agency who are simply doing their job) and that they are only carrying out their duty and their mandate under relevant laws,” Valte told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

The Palace official denied that politics is involved in the ongoing inquiry, adding that Secretary de Lima does not work based on personality but on the facts and circumstances that have been presented.

Asked to comment on De Lima’s statement saying that only the President can stop her, Valte said it is logical because the President is De Lima’s direct superior.

“Perhaps it was just a nod, kaysa naman po sabihin ni Secretary de Lima na walang makakapigil na kahit sino (instead of Sec. De Lima saying that nothing or no one can stop her).

  If you take those two statements, it was just a nod and an acknowledgment that she is an alter ego of a higher position.

I don’t think she intended to drag the President into anything,” she said.

The Senate is conducting an inquiry on the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall construction during Vice President Binay’s term as city mayor. Authorities are also looking at the Binays’ reported properties in Batangas.