TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay slammed Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II for the distribution of what he called a “shameful” comic book partly depicting Roxas’ experience during and after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in this city.

“May pagawa-gawa pa siya ng komiks (He even had a comic book made),” the United Nationalist Alliance presidential candidate told locals at a campaign rally at the Tacloban Astrodome on Wednesday, March 30.

Tacloban crowd welcomes Presidential candidate Binay.#PHVote pic.twitter.com/eKsWrslWBM

— Jene-Anne Pangue (@jeneanneisflair) March 30, 2016

Tacloban residents, mostly Yolanda survivors, cheered loudly after Binay called the Roxas comic book “shameful.”

Sa Gitna ng Unos (In the Midst of the Storm) dramatizes the story of the former interior secretary from the death of his younger brother, Capiz representative Gerardo “Dinggoy” Roxas Jr, to his formal endorsement by President Benigno Aquino III.

Without mentioning any name, Binay continued to attack Roxas as an experienced by “incompetent” Cabinet official. 

“Yung iba diyan kahit anong secretary lang…secretary ng ano DOTC, DILG kung anu-ano….Oo, may karanasan nga, pero puro naman kapalpakan (There are those who become secretary – secretary of the DOTC, DILG, whatever….Yes, he has experience but he’s incompetent),” he said.  

Tacloban was among the hardest-hit cities when Yolanda struck the Visayas in November 2013. 

Roxas served the Aquino administration as transportation secretary, then as interior secretary, before he resigned to run for president. He had been widely criticized by his political rivals for his alleged slow response, as a key Cabinet official on the ground, in the aftermath of Yolanda.

During the rally, Binay reiterated his promises to barangay officials if he becomes president: the postponement of this year’s barangay elections, and the provision of regular salaries and benefits.

He also thanked Taclobanons for their votes during the 2010 elections, when Binay won against Roxas in Leyte province. – Rappler.com 

Jene-Anne Pangue is a former Rappler intern and the lead Rappler Mover in Tacloban City.