Score one for Binay

In a surprise development, Vice President Jejomar Binay had an unannounced private meeting with President Noynoy Aquino, arranged by mutual friends, at the Bahay Pangarap residence last Tuesday night. The meeting lasted for three and half hours, from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Vice President Binay refused to give details of the three-and half-hour meeting. But he volunteered that he told the President that he never thought Aquino was among those who are part of the alleged demolition job against him; that’s how much he trusted the President.

 He reiterated, however, he was not only an ally of the President “but because of that meeting, our friendship only became stronger.”

“No, it was a friendly talk. You should know the President. Yun si Presidente, especially kung kaibigan, walang pulitika, walang  problema. Kaibigan, kaibigan, How are you ba yun?” Binay said.

He described the meeting as cordial and jovial, and there was much laughter as they talked about old age.

This should put to rest media speculation of a break between the Vice President and the President.

The Binays and the Aquinos share a rich history. Binay was appointed Makati’s officer-in-charge mayor when the late former president Cory Aquino assumed the presidency in 1986. That appointment launched Binay’s political career.

During the coup d’ etat, Binay was willing to stake his life for the Aquinos and, up to now, nothing has changed. He is ready to take a bullet for the Aquino family.

Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma downplayed VP Binay’s attack against the administration.

Coloma said the President has expressed satisfaction with the Vice President’s performance as a Cabinet member and that the Vice President should be given credit for his role in helping the administration achieve its targets.

Score one for the Vice President. He is still the most trusted executive official, with a 70 percent approval rating.

Score 2 for Binay

Former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada expressed his full support for his friend, Vice President Jojo Binay, in an interview aired on TV Thursday.

Mayor Estrada expressed confidence that his fellow opposition leader, VP Binay, will overcome all his present difficulties and will bounce back.

Mayor Estrada has said several times that VP Binay is the opposition candidate for President in 2016.

More shabu labs

After a 2-week massive surveillance, the combined team from the Valenzuela City government, local police and Northern Police District (NPD) successfully raided a shabu laboratory which yielded about 15 kilos of metamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) with estimated street value of P30 million and several equipment, devices and chemicals used in manufacturing the illegal drugs.

James Chua, Cai Chin, Cai Qing Chi, Leo Ching, Qing Shi and an unidentified cohort who wrote his name in Chinese character were arrested and detained at the District Anti-Illegal Drugs (DAID) office.

Previously, a much bigger lab was raided and closed in San Fernando, Pampanga, with P4 billion worth of shabu confiscated.

The police also raided a drug operation in Cavite, confiscated 22 firearms and 55 sachets of shabu. At least 23 people, including Victor Hugo, a former Philippine Marine, and Jason Wahing, a marine in active service, have been  arrested in simultaneous police operations launched in General Trias and Cavite City, Cavite.

After a month of surveillance, members of the Quezon City Police District Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force raided a shabu tiangge in Santo Domingo, Quezon City, with 13 people arrested. Police seized illegal drugs and marijuana with a collective worth of about P500,000. 

Sereno declares independence

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno declared her independence when she corrected an introduction that she would probably serve three more Presidents up to 2030.

Speaking before a forum of foreign correspondents, Sereno said, “I do not serve Presidents, excuse me…. That’s unforgivable.”

She defended the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) ruling, saying: “If I believe the court has been too powerful, I would have been the first to say I would not have decided on the case.” She added that the Court has been within its bounds.

Following President Aquino’s allegation of “judicial overreach”, Sereno said: “Maybe what is needed now is the definition of the term, the thinking that the judiciary is too powerful. What do they precisely mean when saying we are too powerful?”

President Aquino has proposed a constitutional amendment to clip the powers of the Supreme Court.

Sereno announced that she is setting oral arguments on the petition to strike down Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Rescue operations in Sulu

The local crisis management committee headed by Sulu Governor Abusakar Tan approved the law enforcement operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) to rescue 15 hostages, including 2 Germans.

The Abu Sayyaf has demanded P250 million for the release of the two German hostages, Stefan Viktor Okonek and Henrike Dielen, as well as Germany’s withdrawal from the US-led war on the jihadi group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The Abu Sayyaf said that they would be beheaded if no ransom was paid by yesterday.

Seven Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) battalions have been deployed in Sulu to conduct the law enforcement operations.

Lt. General John Bonapos, AFP Vice Chief of Staff, is overseeing the law enforcement operations.