Daang matuwid is about clinging to power – VP

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay has accused the ruling Liberal Party (LP) of laying the groundwork for a dictatorial government in the guise of extending the so-called daang matuwid (straight path), the anti-corruption campaign of the Aquino administration.

Binay made the accusation on Thursday in reaction to Malacañang’s recent statement that the administration party needs 18 to 20 years for President Aquino’s straight path to become institutionalized.

Joey Salgado, head of the media affairs division of the Office of the Vice President, noted that presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said it would take from 18 to 20 years for the reforms under daang matuwid to take root.

The Vice President said Malacañang’s statement only reveals its “desperation to stay in power.”

“They’re really clinging tightly to power. We will know (in next year’s elections). The people will be the judge if they really believe this straight path. If they want 20 years, that means that they really aspire for a dictatorial government,” Binay said in an interview in Gerona town in Tarlac, the home province of Aquino.

“Under the term of President Aquino, the judiciary will be destroyed, the institution of the Vice President will be destroyed, until they’re done. On the third phase, they would put a dictatorial government,” he said.

Binay earlier said the 18-year plan included the election of Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas in 2016, followed by Sen. Grace Poe in 2022.

Last week, Aquino endorsed Roxas as the LP’s standard-bearer for the 2016 presidential elections. LP continues to woo Poe, who has been leading the presidential polls, to run as Roxas’ running mate.

“The cat is finally out of the bag. For once Secretary Lacierda said something true. The LP’s grand plan is to impose one-party dictatorship,” Salgado said.

“Not only 20 years of insensitive and inept governance. And 20 years of large-scale corruption involving allies and partymates and suppression of the opposition,” he added.

Binay was also surprised at the warm welcome from local officials and residents of Tarlac.

“Their warm welcome to me is motivating,” he said in Filipino.

Binay-Marcos tandem?

As to Binay’s possible running mate, he said the selection committee of his party United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) is still choosing their possible vice presidential candidate.

But some are hinting that it will be Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” Binay told reporters during his visit in San Quintin, Pangasinan yesterday.

Binay also said that he sees no conflict with Marcos in case the senator becomes his running mate, although Binay fought against the regime of the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

The newly formed alliance of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) and Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka (PMM) expressed support for the possible tandem of Binay and Marcos.

Lawyer Oliver Lozano, KBL/PMM spokesman, told The STAR that the coalition is also pushing for the presidential candidacy of Marcos and they will still support the senator if he decides to be a vice presidential candidate.

“It’s now or never. The 2016 election is ripe for Sen. Marcos to seek higher office,” Lozano added.

Aside from Marcos, other names are coming out as UNA’s vice presidential candidate.

“It is still a secret,” Binay said in Filipino. “It’s still in the selection committee.”

Binay also said that should he be elected president in 2016, he wants to leave a legacy of a unifying administration.

Former Pangasinan representative Mark Cojuangco said he will stand by his earlier endorsement for the presidential bid of Binay.

Cojuangco said that while he and Binay were not allies in the ‘80s and ‘90s, he has high respect for Binay, especially when he became mayor of Makati and introduced reforms mostly benefiting residents.

Binay reciprocated Cojuangco’s endorsement by expressing support to Cojuangco’s gubernatorial bid in 2016, saying successful businessmen like the former congressman usually bring with them stories of progress in their administration. – With Eva Visperas, Perseus Echeminada, Ric Sapnu