Binay dismisses call to quit Cabinet, other attacks

Vice President Jejomar Binay. CDN FILE PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA

MANILA, Philippines—Vice President Jejomar Binay brushed aside on Thursday a lawmaker’s call for him to resign from the Aquino Cabinet.

“Unang-una po, Araw ng Kalayaan ngayon. Tama na muna ‘yang pulitika,” Binay told reporters when sought to react to Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice’s call from him to step down from the Cabinet.

Erice made the call in a privilege speech on Tuesday where he noted how the Vice President continued to stay as chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council while his allies in the opposition bloc were attacking the administration.

Asked if he was surprised by Erice’s statements, Binay said: “Wala muna. Timeout.”
Pressed further that he was being asked to leave the Cabinet only, and not his post, the Vice President said:  “Sang-ayon sa kaniya ‘yan (That’s according to him).”

Binay also shrugged off continued attacks that he has been receiving from different sectors.

“Matagal rin naman akong nag-mayor, so talagang it’s part doon sa pulitika natin. ‘Yun lang sana naman maging malinis sa pulitika, hindi nababahiran ng ‘di maganda,” he said.

(I was a mayor for a long time, so (I know that) it’s part of the politics. I just hope that we can clean up our politics and rid it of unpleasant things.)

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