Binay won’t call for Aquino ouster

MANILA, Philippines – Amid calls from various sectors demanding President Benigno Aquino III to step down from his post following the Mamasapano tragedy, Vice President Jejomar Binay said on Wednesday that he is still supporting the administration.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Makati City’s special rites for the fallen police commandos, Binay said that he hopes that Aquino can weather calls for his ouster.

“I wish the President can overcome this problem. I am continuously hoping and praying na he can overcome this problem as soon as possible,” the vice president said.

Meanwhile, Binay urged Aquino to convene the National Security Council to have an assessment on the peace and security situation in the country following the recent clashes in Mindanao.

“We need to have an honest to goodness situation of our peace and order. There are many encounters, which needed to be probed. We also need to know where these clashes might lead to,” he added.

Binay said that the National Security Council meeting would seek to find solutions on the security challenges plaguing the country.

“With the security council, we have to sit down and put together what they feel are problems now and in the future,” the vice president said.

Some bishops, through the National Transformation Council whose members include Davao Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla, Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo de la Cruz, Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, Naval Bishop Filomeno Bactol, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pablos, urged Aquino to relinquish his post.

Peping Cojuangco, too

Aside from the prelates, former Tarlac Rep. Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., an uncle of President Aquino, also admitted that he was among those pushing for change in the country’s leadership but claimed that the initiative was neither a prelude to a coup nor a military takeover.

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“When we say stepping down of the President, we are talking about regime change. It’s not only him that should step down” but also Binay and other officials, said Cojuangco.

Cojuangco’s idea of change jibes with the call of Norberto Gonzales Jr., former national security adviser and defense secretary of the Arroyo administration, for the establishment of a “transition government” through a National Transition Council.