Palace won’t stop Roxas electoral protest vs Binay

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang won’t stop former Senator Manuel Roxas II from pursuing his electoral protest against Vice President Jejomar Binay even as President Benigno Aquino’s defeated running mate is poised to take on a position in the Cabinet, of which Binay is also a member.

“There’s no problem between the two officials concerned…. Even the vice president has said that we’re all on the same team and we’re willing to work for the reform agenda of the President,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over the government-run radio dzRB.

Valte was asked if Malacañang would ask Roxas to withdraw his election protest against Binay considering that they would soon be on the same team in the Aquino administration.

Aquino has indicated that Roxas will be his presidential chief of staff. Binay, on the other hand, heads the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and is the President’s adviser on overseas Filipino workers.

“So perhaps let’s end the discussion there because if there’s no problem between the two personalities, perhaps we’d just have to follow,” she added.

Valte said Roxas was expected to join the Cabinet in the first week of June after the administrative order defining his tasks as chief of staff is finalized.