Binay eyes sneak entry into Palace, says Aquino ally

MANILA, Philippines – An administration ally has accused Vice President Jejomar Binay of attempting to “sneak into” Malacañang outside of the ballot by riding on the ouster plot allegedly being pushed by former Tarlac Rep. Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., an uncle of President Aquino.

“Participating in these talks shows that the Vice President is trying to sneak into power without an election. This will provoke tremendous instability and reverse all the gains in terms of institutionalizing the constitutional transfer of power via elections,” said Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello in a text message.

Bello was reacting to reports that Binay had agreed to lead the advisory council being pushed by Cojuangco as a transition body that would take over the government should the President give in to pressures to resign.

Cojuangco’s wife, former Tarlac Gov. Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, confirmed reports that Binay had agreed to lead the advisory body in a meeting earlier this month. Binay, however, has denied agreeing to any such set-up.

“This is also a terrible example of the elite engineering an illegal and illegitimate transfer of power. It’s elite power, not people power Binay, his Cojuangco cronies and the GMA (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) revanchists are up to,” Bello said.

Bello criticized the Cojuangco couple for being so “out of touch” of the political times. “It’s a measure of Binay’s desperate thirst for power that he’s transacting a loopy transition with them. The President should order him out of the Cabinet as soon as possible,” the lawmaker said.

Bello urged the President to make “immediate, decisive moves” to restore his credibility, which has been damaged by the Mamasapano fiasco. Aside from coming clean on his role and the United States participation in the mission, Bello said the President should also cut off “millstones dragging him down.”