Binay was no punching bag – Palace

Malacañang on Tuesday denied that Vice President Jejomar Binay was a “punching bag” of the administration while he was still a member of President Benigno Aquino III’s Cabinet.

“We do not share the assessment of the allies of the Vice President that he was made a punching bag by the administration,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a text message to media.

READ: Fed up, Binay bolts Cabinet

She said that while Malacañang cannot comment on the “motivation behind [Binay’s] resignation,” its officials “have always endeavored to keep public discourse on programs and policies and not centered on personalities in general.”

Valte said she was “not privy to the conversation between President Aquino and VP Binay yesterday (Monday).”

Binay on Monday submitted his resignation letter to Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa through his daughter, Makati City Representative Abigail Binay.

Over state-run radio, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Ochoa had immediately handed over the letter to the President, who called up Binay to confirm his resignation.

He said Ochoa will formalize the resignation of Binay from the Cabinet.

In an earlier interview, the younger Binay said, “It was tiring for him (Vice President) to be getting all the punches without punching back. He was tired of being treated as a punching bag and not being able to fight back. Now, he feels liberated.”

READ: Aquino set to accept Binay’s resignation from Cabinet

Coloma said it was the standard procedure among presidential appointees – to submit the resignation letter to the executive secretary.

Binay is the chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Affairs.

Coloma said he has not yet received information on who will replace Binay in the Cabinet.

However, he said the public should not be alarmed because work continues for the two offices.

“At hanggang hindi po humihirang ang Pangulo ng iba pang mga opisyal, mayroon naman po tayong prinsipyo sa gobyerno na ‘continuity and no disruption in essential public services,’” he said.

(While the President has yet to appoint a new official, we have a principle in government that says ‘continuity and no disruption in essential public services.’)

Despite comments from the President’s allies that he should resign from the Cabinet because of his criticisms against the administration, Binay last year said he wouldn’t because he had the “highest respect for President Aquino.”

READ: Will Binay resign from Aquino Cabinet?

He gave the statement after the President said that he should just present solutions since he was a member of the Cabinet.

“If he thinks we are on a wrong direction, he is free not to join us,” Aquino had said.

READ: Aquino tells Binay: You’re free to leave

Binay has announced his plans to run as president in 2016 and has been ranking high in the electoral surveys.

However, his camp claimed that he and his family were being subjected to political persecution through the investigation on the allegedly overpriced Makati parking building.

READ: Probers of Makati Science High building recommend graft raps vs Binay