MANILA, Philippines - There was neither confirmation nor denial from the Liberal Party or from Malacañang of Vice President Jejomar Binay’s claim that the ruling party is planning to “adopt” him in 2016.
In a statement, the LP did not mention Binay’s name but expressed its openness “to partnerships based on a common vision and common values.”
“The Liberal Party believes that moving this nation forward requires a people united based on principle, shared values and a common anti-corruption governance agenda. Accordingly, the LP affirms this belief in the political coalitions and alliances we, as a party, enter into,” the LP said in a statement signed by its president, Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya.
It said “patronage, expediency and political leveraging” were the characteristics of the “old politics” that the LP was determined to avoid.
“This is not the way the LP does things. President Aquino said that such a system can be changed, and once changed, can spur the transformation of society,” the LP statement read.
The LP said it stood its ground on vital legislations like the Responsible Parenthood Act and the Sin Tax Reform Act in the face of “stiff opposition from entrenched interests.”
The LP also cited its having spearheaded efforts to make “remnants of the crooked system” accountable for wrongdoing and that, together with its allies, it “pushed for justice against an ineffective ombudsman, a dishonest chief justice and a former president,” in apparent reference to Merceditas Gutierrez, Renato Corona and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“In our continuing work to uplift the lives of our countrymen as quickly as possible, the LP has remained in vigorous opposition to those who wish to return to the old politics, those who are corrupt and those who simulate reformist zeal even as they continue to take advantage of our fellowmen,” the LP statement read.
Malacañang also shrugged off Binay’s revelation, saying the administration would rather focus on the tasks of reducing poverty and uplifting the lives of citizens in general.
“These issues are much more important than focusing on (2016) politics that are still far off,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a press briefing yesterday.
Binay told reporters in Makati City on Monday that he had raw information that LP may join forces with UNA and then later “adopt” him as candidate.
Asked if Binay was not off the mark for putting the Palace on the spot, Coloma said Binay was probably just answering questions from the media and that there was nothing wrong with planning for the future.
But when told that it was Binay who volunteered the information, Coloma said the administration cannot afford to be preoccupied with politics at the moment as there are jobs to create and lives to uplift.
No room for Binay
But some LP leaders, including party vice chairman Sen. Franklin Drilon, insisted there is no such arrangement with the vice president.
“All I can say is that the spin masters are having their day. There is no such thing. I am a member of the executive committee of the Liberal Party, and there has been no discussion on that,” Drilon said.
“At the end of the day the party will be influenced in its decision by the decision of President Noynoy,” he said.
“Secretary Roxas remains our only choice for presidential candidate in 2016,” LP secretary general and Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento, said referring to Interior and Local Government Manuel Roxas II.
“But coalescing with other political parties is an option the party may consider, subject to several considerations as we did in the 2013 midterm elections.”
“We are willing to consider an alliance with any political group based on a continuity of shared values of anti-corruption, social equity. We would continue to reform public finances and make public officials accountable,” he said.
Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice said Binay “has no place in the LP because there’s great doubt if he can continue the tuwid na daan (straight path).”
For Sen. Sergio Osmeña III, Binay doesn’t need any endorsement if survey results are to be believed.
“The way the surveys are reflecting his popularity, he doesn’t need anybody’s endorsement. But of course, politics being addition, you always want any added support. But the way he is doing, if the elections were held today, he’ll win in a landslide,” Osmeña said.
Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said that the President should be wary of endorsing someone like Binay who is being linked to corruption issues.
“I support the Aquino administration because of tuwid na daan. But if it suddenly endorses Vice President Binay, it would end up taking a sharp turn,” he said.
“I really believe that there is a secret formula for the Liberal Party to have a strong candidate, which is performance. If they’re looking at the surveys and they don’t like what they see, stop looking at the surveys, start working harder,” he said.
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV also said Binay did not have to float the scenario of him getting endorsement from the administration if the vice president is convinced of his winnability in the elections.
Meanwhile, UNA secretary general Toby Tiangco said Binay will definitely run as standard bearer of the opposition despite his reportedly being eyed for “adoption” by the ruling LP.
Tiangco said an endorsement of Binay by President Aquino would be a welcome development as it would underpin the Chief Executive’s trust and confidence in the vice president.
“The closeness of the Aquino and the Binay families goes beyond politics. It’s a kinship forged by adversity, trust and shared democratic principles and values – and not political convenience,” Tiangco said.
Tiangco said President Aquino’s mentioning Binay’s name in his State of the Nation Address may have sent different signals to LP members.
“The downside is that those who are loyal to Mar Roxas will become more desperate in their demolition job against the VP,” he said. – Paolo Romero, Marvin Sy, Christina Mendez, Jose Rodel Clapano