Malacañang to Binay: Dictator tag has no basis

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. and Vice President Jejomar Binay FILE PHOTOS

Where did that comment come from?

Malacañang on Saturday said it did not know why Vice President Jejomar Binay would accuse the administration of President Benigno Aquino III of wanting a “dictatorship.”

READ: Palace wants dictatorship–Binay 

“Like his parents, the President is a staunch advocate of democracy, in which the most important element is the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to another through the conduct of orderly and credible elections,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said, referring to the late Corazon “Cory” Aquino and Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

Cory Aquino’s presidency marked the restoration of democracy after the Marcos dictatorship. Ninoy Aquino, on the other hand, was a former senator who died after opposing former President Ferdinand Marcos.

Binay, who was appointed officer in charge of Makati during Cory’s term, claimed Malacañang was “holding very tight to power.”

Earlier, he said the Aquino administration wanted to destroy the judiciary and the Office of the Vice President. He accused the administration of planning to “establish a dictatorial government.”

Coloma instead said Aquino had been asking Filipinos to support his reform agenda “so that the transformation of Philippine society that has been built on good governance during his administration may be brought to its full fruition.”

He pointed out that the administration has been working to strengthen the judiciary.

“Ang Supreme Court po ang nangunguna sa inisyatibang ‘yan, sinuportahan po natin lahat ‘nung mga legislative initiatives na patungkol diyan, at pinalakas din po natin ‘yung prosecutorial arm ng pamahalaan na nasa ilalim ng Department of Justice para lumakas ang ating criminal justice system. Pinapalakas din po natin ‘yung ating prison o correction system, bahagi din po ‘yan ng sistema ng batas. Kaya wala po talagang batayan ‘yung pagsasabi niyan (The Supreme Court is heading that initiative and Malacañang has supported legislative initiatives that aim to strengthen the prosecutorial arm of the government under the Department of Justice to ensure the effectivity of the criminal justice system. We are also strengthening the prison or correction system. That is why we do not see the basis of the Vice President for saying that),” he said.

Coloma added that Malacañang had always respected and supported the Office of the Vice President.

He reiterated that in the last five years, when Binay was still a member of the Cabinet, he did not complain about the government.

Binay, who will run as the opposition’s presidential bet in 2016, has been criticizing the Aquino government, calling it insensitive and inept.

He has seemingly broken ties with the President despite his closeness with the Aquino family.

The President, on the other hand, has questioned Binay’s motives. He said he has always supported Binay despite being a leader of the opposition.