“I WON’T back out.”
That was the strong statement of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday to his political opponents who have been urging him to abandon his presidential plans amid corruption allegations hurled against him.
As expected, Binay used his speech at the Coconut Palace in Pasay City to criticize President Benigno Aquino III, calling his administration as “manhid (uncaring)”and “palpak (blundering).”
“Sa mga kalaban ko sa pulitika, sinasabi ko sa inyo ngayon: kung ang layunin ninyo ay paatrasin ako sa pagtakbo bilang pangulo sa 2016, nagkakamali kayo. Hindi ako umaatras sa laban,” Binay said.
The Vice President said he would now lead the opposition and fulfill his vision for the poor.
“At lalong hindi ko iiwanan ang ating mga mahihirap na kababayan. Lagi ninyong kasama sa hirap at ginhawa, at ngayon ay namumuno sa oposisyon,” he said.
Binay blasted the administration of President Benigno Aquino III for launching a black propaganda against him.
“Ngayon, sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang administrasyon, ako ay pinagkaisahang siraan, hamakin, gipitin, tanggalin bilang pangalawang pangulo at ipakulong pa,” he said.
The vice president hit the inaction of Aquino on corruption allegations involving his allies and partymates.
“At habang ako at ang aking pamilya ay ginigipit at inuusig, hinahayaan naman nila ang malawakang anomalya ng kanilang mga kasama ta kapartido,” he said, citing the anomalous Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) and the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
Binay, who tendered his irrevocable resignation on Monday, said he was already fed up with the government, which led to his resignation.
“Nagbitiw po ako sa Gabinete dahil hindi ako makapapayag na siraan ang aking mga programang pang-masa na nagtagumpay sa Makati at nais kong mapalawak sa buong bansa,” he said.
Binay has been the head of the government’s Housing and Urban Development and Coordinating Council and the presidential adviser on the overseas Filipino workers.
Unlike the “numb and incompetent” Aquino administration, Binay vowed to have a compassionate and effective leadership.
“Hangad ko na magkaroon ang bansa nang maayos na pamamahala upang marami at hindi lang iilan ang makikinabang sa kaunlarang maaabot natin,” he said.
If elected president in 2016, the vice president vowed for a government that truly cares and listens to the poor.
Binay challenged his critics to face him in an honest and clean election come 2016.
“May hangganan ang pagtitiis ng isang tao. Tama na. Sobra na. Bakit hindi nila ako harapin sa malinis na halalan?” he said.