Peping Cojuangco: I am for Jejomar Binay

Former Tarlac Rep. Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RODEL ROTONI

MANILA, Philippines — Former Tarlac representative Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. said that he would support Vice President Jejomar Binay’s bid for the presidency in 2016.

Cojuangco, uncle of President Benigno Aquino III, declared support for Binay on the ABS-CBN news program “Bandila,” which aired late Tuesday night, Feb. 24, 2015.

Asked during the program’s “Yes or No” segment if he would support Binay in the 2016 polls, Cojuangco said “Yes.”

However, the President’s uncle said that while he was calling for the ouster of Aquino, he did not think that Binay should take over the presidency.

He said he regretted supporting Aquino—his sister’s son—in 2010.

Cojuangco denied allegations that he was “bitter” towards his nephew for not appointing him to a higher position in the government.

“I have my own things to do. I am now involved in sports. I am the president of the Olympics Committee. Hindi naman ako nabubuhay sa politika (I do not live for politics),” he said.

Ironically, many observers say Philippine sports have sunk to its lowest levels during Cojuangco’s leadership, noting the poor performance of Filipino athletes in recent regional and international sports competitions.

Cojuangco said he was urging the president to resign as a duty to the Filipino people.

“I feel that I owe it to the country. I owe it to the people. I served the people from being a congressman and as a private citizen. I think I did my part in restoring the democracy in the country and I don’t want to lose it,” he said.

Cojuangco and his wife, former-Tarlac governor Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, joined various groups during protests on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, urging government officials to resign en masse in order to facilitate “system change.”

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