I advised hard-headed Aquino on Corona, other key issues—Binay

Philippine Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay AP FILE PHOTO

Reacting to criticisms on his continued attacks against the administration that he was a part of, Vice President Jejomar Binay on Tuesday said he advised President Benigno Aquino III and did not simply keep mum on key issues during his five-year stint in the Cabinet.

But Binay said Aquino, whom he called “hard-headed,” was not very open to suggestions, especially when it was not coming from his “inner group.”

“May pagkakataon ho na ako ay nagpapadala ng memorandum o kinakausap ko siya, o kung siya gusto niyang mag-usap kami. Halimbawa, ‘yung kay Corona, ‘yung sa Zamboanga seige, etc. Hindi totoo na hindi ako nagsa-suggest sa kaniya. Pero, kailangan kilala mo si Noynoy,” Binay said in an interview with radio station DZRH.

(There were instances when I sent a memorandum or I talked to him, or him wanting to talk to me. For example, with regards Corona, the Zamboanga siege, etc., it’s not true that I didn’t give suggestions to him. But you know Noynoy.)

“Si Presidente Aquino matigas ang ulo niyan. Madalas niyan ‘pagka nagdesisyon na ‘yan, ‘yun na ‘yun… Unang-una, tuwing kakausapin mo siya kailangan nasa timing ka. Wala sa mood, ganoon. Bata pa ‘yan kilala ko na ‘yan,” the Vice President added.

(President Aquino is hard-headed. If he makes a decision, that’s it. Foremost, if you want to talk to him, you should be with the right timing. If he’s not in the mood, it should be that way. I’ve known him since he was younger.)

Binay said he advised Aquino not to meddle with the impeachment case against then Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012, as it would not only violate the separation of powers among three equal branches of government, but would also make him dictator-like.

“Katulad nung kay Justice Corona, sinalubong niya ako bago siya umalis papunta sa ibang bansa. Nag-usap kami niyan. Ang sinabi ko sa kaniya hindi tama ‘yung ginagawa mong ‘yan,” he said.

(Just like in the case of Justice Corona, we talked about it before he went abroad. We talked and I told him, it’s not right for him to meddle.)

“Sabi ko sa kaniya, alam mo executive department andiyan ka na. ‘Yung congress hawak mo pa. ‘Pagka ginalaw mo judiciary, si Justice Corona, eh diktador ka na niyan. Takot na sa’yo ang lahat. Nangyari nga, talagang natakot na ang mga hukom,” he added.

(I told him, you are part of the executive department. You also hold Congress. If you tinker with the judiciary, [meddle with] Justice Corona, you become a dictator. Everyone will fear you. It happened. The justices were afraid.)

Binay also claimed that Corona’s impeachment was part of the Aquino administration’s grand plan to stay in power for 18 years and eventually establish a dictatorial government.

“Alam mo ito, hindi magandang precedent ‘yan. Kasama pala sa plano ‘yan dahil sa pagkakaalam ko gusto nilang nandiyan sa power for 18 years,” he said. “Itong panahon ni Pres. Aquino, sirain ang institusyon ng hukuman, sirain ang institusyon ng Pangalawang Pangulo, hanggang sa matapos, on the third phase, maglalagay sila ng dictatorial government.”

(That didn’t make a good precedent. It’s part of the plan to stay in power for 18 years. This era of President Aquino is meant to destroy the judiciary, to destroy the institution of the Vice President until it’s finished. On the third phase, they will put up a dictatorial government.”)

In May 2012, Corona was found guilty of Article 2 of the impeachment complaint filed against him for failing to disclose to the public his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth.

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