Binay: Aquino should’ve accepted Abad resignation

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday admitted for the first time that he disagreed with President Benigno Aquino III’s decision to reject Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad’s resignation over the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) controversy.

When Aquino announced during a Cabinet meeting last July 11 that he received and decided to reject Abad’s resignation, media reports said Binay was the only one who did not applaud the announcement.

“Kasi ho yung pagpapalakpak sa aking pananaw eh yung mga kasama ko sa Cabinet ay pumalakpak (dahil) sinusuportahan nila yung pahayag dun sa naging desisyon ng Pangulo na huwag tanggapin ang resignation ni Secretary Abad,” Binay told Radyo Inquirer 990AM.

(What I understood was that my fellow Cabinet members applauded the announcement because they supported the decision of the President rejecting the resignation of Secretary Abad.)

“Ako naman sa aking palagay eh dapat tanggapin [nya] yung resignation (In my opinion the President should have accepted the resignation),” Binay explained.

“Pero sabi ko nga nadesisyunan na ni Pangulo yan so that’s already moot and academic (But as I said, it was already decided on so that’s moot and academic),” he said.

Abad, who was credited for crafting the DAP, tendered his resignation almost two weeks after the high court decision. He said he was taking full responsibility for developing and implementing the DAP. However, he said he decided to stay after the President “expressed his continuing trust and confidence.”

RELATED STORIES

Aquino rejects Butch Abad resignation

DAP critics on Aquino clearing Abad: Too much, too soon