Social media lit up with triumphant memes and congratulatory messages on Wednesday morning as netizens welcomed the Court of Appeals (CA) freeze order on the bank accounts and insurance policies of Vice President
Jejomar Binay, wife Elenita, son Makati Mayor Junjun Binay and several of his alleged dummies.
Issued on May 11, the freeze order covers the 242 bank accounts of Binay, his wife and son, his former vice mayor turned whistle-blower Ernesto Mercado, and Binay’s other associates and alleged dummies led by Gerardo Limlingan, Binay’s chief of staff who remains in hiding.
“Ganda ng headline ng Inquirer…” Rbr Pix said of the news on page 1 of the newspaper.
The news story had almost 30,000 shares by Wednesday afternoon, with the number of comments, mostly supportive and encouraging, reaching 2,000 by late afternoon.
“Lord have mercy… best news of the day. BINAY ASSETS FROZEN. GOD BLESS PO. SALAMAT PO,” netizen Rodrigo Bautista added.
For netizen Kevin Joshua Rebultan, the latest government move means he’d have to choose another candidate in next year’s election: “I don’t know, but I never really trusted Binay. And with all the allegations against him, nah. Forget 2016 presidential election.”
But while some have shifted their votes from Vice President Binay who had publicly announced his political plans in 2016, some expressed reservations about “the other side.”
“While I hate the idea of Binay being the next president, these dirty politics from the other side are just lousy and incongruous move,” said @arch_archie_val.
‘Final curtain’
“And now the end is near and so I face the final curtain… I did it my way. Plunder” @DTruth4Ever posted, quoting a line from Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.”
Netizens also slammed Binay for threatening “to prosecute (the Inquirer) to the fullest extent of the law,” for allegedly violating the confidentiality clause of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001.
“(Binay’s lawyer’s) veiled threat to the PDI if they publish the CA freeze order on his clients bank accounts went pffffftttt! It was a dud and nobody bought it. And here we netizens are having the best time of our life on Disqus,” netizen Hosea Magdalo said.
“Threatening to sue a major newspaper? Nice try, but I doubt if your smoke screen will work. Might as well focus your efforts on defending your beleaguered crocodile client. Hahaha!” said netizen Norman Fernandez.
“Who are the Binay Camp frightening? FREEDOM OF THE PRESS!” demanded judefawley.
‘Wrong move’
“WRONG MOVE! You don’t f*ck with the newsman! Especially Inquirer! :),” posted netizen moot_a.
“PDI we support you all the way, alin ba ang masama ang magsiwalat ng katotohanan o ang mangurakot ng pera ng bayan? [PDI, we support you. What’s worse: exposing the truth or stealing from public’s coffers?]” asked vpguanzon.
Similarly, reader rivasnick hit back at the Binay camp for brandishing a lawsuit against Inquirer for its news on the freeze order: “That’s what u get for threatening PDI and our right of expression and to information—na-headline tuloy kayo! LOL!!! [Now you’re in the headlines!]
But for Ladie Mesias, the adverse headline might even work for the Binays: “The Binays must be laughing like jackals now they have free media mileage & in phil politics negative reports get votes,” she posted.
Dark side
According to netizen chammy, the Vice President should share his blessings, “Binay Binay naks dami kickback share ka naman paconcert ko VP Binay [Binay, you should share your kickback so I can hold a concert].”
Ernie Batiller tweeted: “So Binay’s afraid that the public will know about his dark side.”
Batiller added: “Sa init ng panahong ito, bank accounts lang ni Binay ang nanlamig. Super win! :) [In this hot weather, only Binay’s bank accounts remain frozen].”
But while most netizens were in a celebratory mood over the freeze order story, others expressed their rage toward the Binays and his associates.
“Who amasses this much assets and honestly say they served the people the past 30 years in local government?” asked @jabbuhay.
Tweeted @mayiimnida: “Imagine giving PH to them, the sense of entitlement they have…”
“IS JUSTICE FINALLY WORKING FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE PHILIPPINES. NOW KARMIC JUSTICE IS IN THE HORIZON, THANKS LORD, SANA TULOY TULOY NA (Hope the process continues),” prayed Lulu Looca.
According to Billy Tanzan, late President Corazon Aquino must be turning in her grave: “16B. Kung nabubuhay si Cory, isusumpa nya ang araw na inupo niya si Binay sa Makati. [If Cory were alive today, she’d rue the day she allowed Binay to run Makati.]”
Set a precedent
Reader Pompeyo Pedroche expressed the hope that the cases against Binay would prosper and “set a precedent to deter potential plunderers and dynasties.”
Facebook user Godofredo Eusebio, meanwhile, denounced the number of Binays in public office: “MAY THE LIGHT OF TRUTH BEFALLEN ON ALL OF BINAYS FAMILIES CORRUPTION SOONER. WALANG MGA KABUSUGAN. ALIS KAYO DIYAN PATI NA ANG MGA APOS! [The Binays’ greed knows no bounds. Step down now, with your grandchildren].”–With a report from Paul Vincent Balois
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