Philippine Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay gestures while reading his statement at a news conference, Wednesday, June 24, 2015 in Manila, Philippines. AP
Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday said he felt like a leper during the Cabinet meetings following alleged political attacks against him.
Asked if he was treated like an outcast by the others, he said, “Hindi naman naa-outcast. Pero, alam mo itong mga bandang huli na nga kasama na ito siguro ng resulta ng panggigipit, at sabihin ko lang sa inyo ha, lalung-lalo na na kalat na kalat na at ikinakalat ng mga kalaban ko sa pulitika na ako ay ipaaaresto. Alam mo para kang may ketong doon sa Cabinet meeting,” he added.
(Not really an outcast. But, you know, lately, perhaps a result of being persecuted, especially when my political rivals spread rumors that I was being arrested…I felt like I had leprosy during those Cabinet meetings.)
Binay on Monday resigned as member of the Cabinet and head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) Concerns.
READ: Binay quits Aquino Cabinet
On Wednesday, Binay gave a speech citing some reasons behind his decision. He said the Aquino administration was callous and incompetent.
READ: Binay: Aquino government ‘palpak’
Despite this, he said Aquino was still his friend.
“Kaibigan pa rin po. Pinag-uusapan lamang po natin dito ‘yung pamahalaan, ‘yung pamamahala sa bayan (He’s still a friend. What we’re talking about is the government, the governance of the nation),” the Vice President said.
Binay and his camp has repeatedly accused Aquino’s Liberal Party for political persecution, especially during a series of Senate hearings on the alleged overpriced Makati parking building.
He did not mention Aquino in his speech, but complained of the failures of his administration.
The President on Thursday broke his silence and expressed his dismay. He said he gave Binay the opportunity to maintain his “popularity ratings” by giving him a post in his Cabinet. Aquino said Binay’s requests during Cabinet meetings were always approved.
“I treated him as a member of the official family. We’ve been through a lot,” he said of Binay, who is close to the Aquino family.
READ: Aquino on Binay: I saved him from being spare tire