Noy’s full trust in Binay remains – Palace

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay continues to enjoy the trust and confidence of President Aquino, a Palace official said yesterday.

“The President has full trust and confidence in members of his Cabinet, including Vice President Binay,” Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations Office said.

Coloma issued the statement following calls made by Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice, a Liberal Party member identified with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, for Binay to resign as Cabinet member.

Binay serves as housing czar and presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ affairs.

He and Roxas are expected to be rivals in the May 2016 presidential elections.

The Office of the President, however, kept its distance from Erice whose privilege speech at the House of Representatives last week called on Binay to resign from the Cabinet and show his true color as an opposition member.

“A privilege speech is a right of every lawmaker. We respect Rep. Erice’s use of this right. The Office of the President has no participation in his decision to deliver such speech,” Coloma said.

The Palace respects Erice’s personal sentiments against Binay, he said.

United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) secretary-general and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco had earlier slammed Erice for attacking Binay.

Tiangco said that Binay has been loyal not only to the President but to the entire Aquino clan.

He said Binay was performing well in his job as vice president and member of the Cabinet.

Tiangco advised Erice to train his eyes instead on Cabinet members who are not doing their work.

“Why do you have to call for the resignation of a government official, a Cabinet member, with the highest approval and trust ratings? This means that the people are happy with his work,” Tiangco said.