Binay says he’ll respect Senator Pimentel’s decision

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday said he will respect Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III’s decision if he decides to leave the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

“Whatever is his decision, we will respect it,” Binay said in a chance interview with reporters after he spoke at the opening of the Asia-Pacific Scout Regional Management Meeting in Makati City.

Binay said he did not wish to speculate and would wait for his meeting with Pimentel III.

“Base sa mga nababasa at napapanood ko, maguusap kami ni Senator Koko. Wala naman kaming dahilan para hindi magusap (From what I’ve read and seen, Senator Pimentel and I will talk about it soon. There’s no reason for us not to),” Binay said.

Binay said he and Pimentel III met during the traditional vin d’ honneur at the Malacañang Palace on Tuesday but did not talk about the issue.

When asked about his comments on the statement of former senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., Senator Pimentel III’s father, saying UNA sacrificed principles over money when they chose to accept former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Binay said “Okay lang, sa diwa ng tunay na demokrasya kanya kanya ng opinion (It’s OK, in the spirit of democracy, everyone’s entitled to his own opinion).”

Binay said his relationship with Pimentel Jr. remained “OK,” saying he had long ties with him.

“Lagi kong sinasabi na yung pagka-Mayor ko ay utang ko kay Nene Pimentel (I always tell people that my being Mayor [of Makati City], I owe it to Nene Pimentel),” he said.

Binay stressed the need for Pimentel III to accept UNA’s decision, saying the covenant stated that a member from either PDP-Laban or PMP that was endorsed by a founding member must be accepted as part of the slate.

UNA formally announced the acceptance of Zubiri on Monday, despite strong objection from Pimentel III.