Binay not resigning from Aquino Cabinet

Vice President Jejomar Binay and President Benigno Aquino III. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Vice President Jejomar Binay dismissed speculations on Friday that he would resign from the Cabinet despite the left and right allegations being hurled against him.

But Binay, who is also the concurrent head of the Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council, said he would leave it up to President Benigno Aquino III to decide on his fate as a member of his Cabinet.

“’Yung pagiging miyembro ko po sa Gabinete, na kay Pangulo po ‘yun. Pero ‘yun hong paka file ng certificate of candidacy ‘yun Oktobre, compelled ka (to resign),” he said in a radio interview when asked about reports that he would resign as housing czar.

(As far as my being a member of the Cabinet is concerned, the President will decide on that. But when I file my certificate of candidacy this October, I will be compelled (to resign).)

Unfazed by allegations that he received kickbacks and amassed unexplained wealth when he was still mayor of Makati City, Binay reiterated his desire to run for president in 2016.

“Ito ho ay ambisyon ko na pagkabata pa. At ako naman ho ay naghanda, nakaranas ng isang trabaho sa executive department. Ako po ay dalawampu’t isang taong naging mayor ng Makati,” he said.

(This has been my ambition ever since I was young. I have prepared and have had experiences working in the executive department. I was Mayor of Makati for 21 years.)

” Ang sabi nga sa Ingles, the [proof] of the pudding is tasting. Kung ano ho ang aking pamamahala, kung ano ho ang aking liderato, makikita ho naman n’yo kung ano ang aking mga nagawa sa Makati.”

(As for the style of my leadership, you can see it in the way I led Makati.)

“Kaya ba ang aking pangarap ay ‘yun hong aking nagawa sa Makati ay magagawa ko rin po sa ating mga kababayan sa buong Pilipinas,” he added.

(That’s why it is my dream to do in the entire Philippines what I did in Makati.)

Asked about the possibility of eventually getting the President’s support, the Vice President said: “Lagi namang kasama sa options ‘yun. Wala namang imposible sa pulitika. May mga surprises ika nga. Ganyan ang takbo sa pulitika”

(It is always one of the options. There is nothing impossible in politics. There are just surprises. That is how politics operates.)

The Vice President also floated the possibility of having a coalition with the administration’s team.

“Hindi ho malayo; posible na magkaroon ho ng coalition,” he said.

(That is not far-off; it is possible for us to form a coalition.)

Binay had earlier claimed that Aquino’s Liberal Party was considering adopting him to be its bet in 2016 but this was immediately denied by some party leaders.

RELATED STORIES

De Lima sets meeting with anti-Binay witnesses

Binay denies owning Batangas hacienda, says accusers ‘just hallucinating’

Binay should face Senate, answer corruption allegations—Miriam Santiago