What did Aquino, Binay talk about in their meeting? Palace won’t say

By: Kristine Angeli Sabillo - 10 years ago

MANILA, Philippines—What exactly did President Benigno Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay talk about on Tuesday night?

Don’t ask Malacanang because it’s not authorized or privy to divulge such information.

A tight-lipped Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. on Thursday insisted that the two officials did not talk about work.

“Ang pag-uusap ng Pangulo at Pangalawang Pangulo ay hindi tumukoy sa mga opisyal na usapin,” he told Palace reporters.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

(The meeting of the President and the Vice President did not tackle official matters.)

Coloma said he did not have information on whether Binay asked Aquino to order the scrapping of the investigation against him.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported on Thursday that Binay on Tuesday night visited Aquino at Malacanang where they talked for three hours.

Binay said they had a “friendly talk” and that their “friendship only became stronger.” He said they did not talk about the corruption complaints against him.

The Vice President is currently under fire for his alleged involvement in the supposed overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building 2, among other issues.

Coloma said their personal meeting should not come as a surprise to the public.

“Pansinin naman po natin na marami silang pagkakataon na magkadaupang-palad sa mga opisyal na functions at matagal naman po ang kanilang pagkakilala sa isa’t isa. Siguro naman ay normal o natural na madalas din ang kanilang pakikipag-ugnayan away from the public spotlight,” he explained.

(Let’s take notice that they have had a lot of opportunity to interact during official functions and they have known each other for a long time. Perhaps it is normal or natural that they communicate often, away from the public spotlight.)

Binay was close to the President’s mother, Corazon Aquino during her term as president. It is believed that he continues to have close ties to the Aquino family.

However, the two officials remain on opposite sides of the fence, with Binay heading the opposition through the United Nationalist Alliance. Binay will run as president in the 2016 elections while Aquino’s Liberal Party is reportedly planning to field Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas.

In an interview in Indonesia, Aquino said he won’t dare give Binay unsolicited advice since the Vice President was a senior statesman.

Aquino said, “I will give him the respect and courtesy due his office and as a friend…he will be the best judge as to what he has to do.”