Binay camp accuses Kid Peña of ‘credit-grabbing,’ ‘epal’ moves

Mara Cepeda

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Binay camp accuses Kid Peña of ‘credit-grabbing,’ ‘epal’ moves
The city government's PR department says it's putting out advertisements for Acting Makati Mayor Kid Peña because it has underspent on this front

MANILA, Philippines – The camp of suspended Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr slammed acting Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña Jr for issuing a “self-serving” media statement allegedly crediting himself for the city’s tax collection figures for the first half of the year.

“Having been in his post for barely two months at the time the total income of the city was tallied, it was presumptuous, if not downright brazen, of Peña to attribute the 90% attainment of this year’s target total income of the city to his administration,” Binay’s spokesperson Joey Salgado said in a statement on Monday, September 7.

“This is a clear example of credit-grabbing, something that the acting mayor and his people have been doing for the past weeks,” he added.

The latest report from the Makati Treasury Department showed that from January 2 to August 20, the city has already achieved 90%, or P11 billion out of P12.28 billion of its target revenue collection for 2015.

However, Salgado said that prior to Binay’s suspension in June, the total revenue collection had already reached P9.5 billion.

“Official financial records will show that Makati has consistently increased its annual revenue collection for the past two decades,” said Salgado, who is also the media affairs head of Vice President Jejomar Binay, who was mayor of Makati for 21 years.

“It cannot be denied that the business-stimulating policies put in place by the Vice President during his term, which were continued and enhanced by his son, Mayor Junjun Binay, built and sustained a high level of investor confidence in the country’s financial center,” Salgado said.

He added that the city “never incurred” a deficit in the last two decades under the Binays.

‘Bagong Makati’

Last week, Peña released a statement saying that the “transparent and good governance being implemented in the city government of Makati is now gaining ground,” and one proof of this, he said, is the growth in tax collection.

“Rest assured that under the ‘Bagong Makati’s (New Makati)’ guiding service principle, we shall serve with transparency, fairness and integrity,” said Peña, who used a term referring to Makati under his leadership.

“Everyone can stand proud because equal services will be delivered to the business community and all the people of Makati. Regardless of status and color, together we will enjoy the good life,” he added. 

Elected vice mayor, Peña replaced Binay in an acting capacity following Binay’s 6-month preventive suspension order from the Ombudsman.

On Monday, Peña’s spokesperson Gilbert delos Reyes denied that the acting mayor was taking the credit from Binay.

Sa tingin ko, hindi naman [‘yun] credit-grabbing. Masaya lang siya (Peña) kasi sobrang taas nung collection at ‘yung projected target ay na-hit agad even before matapos ‘yung two months niya as acting mayor,” Delos Reyes told Rappler. (I think that’s not credit-grabbing. He’s just happy because the collection was high and the projected target was hit even before the end of his two months as acting mayor.)

He added that they had been receiving testimonials from residents supposedly lauding Peña’s governance of Makati. “Kaya doon sa pagbabayad ng buwis, consistent sila (That’s why they’re consistent in paying their taxes).”

Epal Kid?

In his statement, Salgado also slammed Peña’s “flagrant misuse of government funds” by using money from the city’s coffers for print advertisements promoting “Bagong Makati” that appeared in various newspapers on Friday, September 4.

Salgado said these “do not serve the public interest at all” and are instead “aimed for self-promotion or [being] ‘epal.’”

NEW MAKATI. Print advertisements like this one, aimed to promote Makati's youth programs, appeared on several newspapers last week. Photo by Mara Cepeda/Rappler

Epal” is a derogatory reference to public officials who advertise themselves using government projects.

“The recent print advertisements of Peña are obviously self-serving and merely intended to promote his own image. They do not serve any public information purpose and do not befit Makati’s standing as a financial center,” Salgado added.

Delos Reyes came to the defense of Peña, who previously announced his interest to run for mayor in 2016. (READ: Running for Makati mayor? History shows odds will be against Kid Peña)

Walang direct hand d’yan si acting mayor (The acting mayor had no direct hand here),” said Delos Reyes, who is the current officer-in-charge of the Makati Information and Community Relations Department (ICRD).

He said that he decided to make use of ICRD’s remaining advertising expenses because the budget allotted budget for it is being underspent, with a utilization rating of 16.68%.

According to ICRD records, the approved budget for advertising expenses is at P51.95 million. However, as of July 31, the city government only spent P8.66 million.

Delos Reyes said the advertisements are part of the city government’s social marketing program to promote its projects for the youth. – Rappler.com

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Mara Cepeda

Mara Cepeda specializes in stories about politics and local governance. She covers the Office of the Vice President, the Senate, and the Philippine opposition. She is a 2021 fellow of the Asia Journalism Fellowship and the Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship of the UN. Got tips? Email her at mara.cepeda@rappler.com or tweet @maracepeda.