Roxas thanks Estrada, son for coming to his aid vs Binay accusation

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — That’s the truth.

This was the reaction of Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II after Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and his son, Senator JV Ejercito, defended him from allegations that he was behind a campaign to smear Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Binay, who is at the center of corruption allegations involving a vast agricultural estate in Rosario, Batangas, is one Estrada’s staunchest political allies.

Last week, the vice president said in a televised interview that Roxas was behind the so-called “Oplan Stop Nognog 2016,” which he claimed was a plot aimed at derailing his campaign for the presidency in the 2016 elections.

“I thank Mayor Estrada and Senator JV. They were right when they said that I have nothing to do with it. That’s what I’ve been saying even before,” Roxas said at a news briefing at Camp Crame.

He said he sent a text message to Estrada to personally thank the former president, but he maintained that he did not discuss any possibility of a coalition between the Liberal Party, of which Roxas is president-on-leave, and Estrada’s Partido ng Masang Pilipino.

“I just thanked him for what he said because that’s the truth. There’s nothing more to it. We did not talk (about politics),” said Roxas, who was trade secretary in the Estrada Cabinet. “I think it’s just a mutual respect and we’re just trying to correct the wild statements which do not have any basis.”

Asked if there was any possibility of him and Estrada joining a political coalition, he said in jest: “Definitely. Of course, we will coordinate with the local government unit during All Saints’ Day because there are cemeteries in Manila.”

Turning serious, Roxas said he was focused on more pressing issues concerning the Department of the Interior and Local Government than the 2016 national elections.

“The 2016 elections will come. But there are serious matters which the Aquino administration needs to address,” Roxas said.

Estrada told reporters last week he did not believe Roxas was behind the purported demolition job against Binay, saying he knew the interior secretary to be a “decent man.”

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