MANILA, Philippines - The United Nationalist Alliance on Wednesday denied reports that Vice President Jejomar Binay is severing his ties with President Benigno Aquino III after he lashed out against the administration's "selective justice."
Speaking to ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda (UKG), Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said Binay was not criticizing Aquino himself and was only giving his legal opinion on the administration's treatment of its allies hounded by corruption.
"Hindi ko alam kung bakit ang headline ng ibang mga dyaryo ngayon ay kakalas at ang pinapalabas ng iba ay binabatikos niya si Pangulong Aquino. Lahat naman ng arguments niya doon ay based on legal basis," Tiangco, UNA's interim-president, told UKG.
Tiangco said only President Aquino can remove Binay from his Cabinet.
"He will always serve at the pleasure of the President. Habang may tiwala at habang niniwala ang Pangulo na siya ay makakatulong sa programa, habang naniniwala ang pangulo na siya ay makakatulong sa ating mahihirap, nandiyan po siya," Tiangco said.
During a Public Attoney's Office event on Tuesday, Binay slammed the Department of Justice (DOJ) for ordering the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe allegations that he amassed kickbacks from every project in Makati City when he was still the mayor.
"There is selective justice. Kaming oposisyon ang laging tina-target. Matapos mapakulong 'yung tatlo (Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr.), wala na," Binay said at the event shown by television reports on Tuesday night.
"Si (Budget) Secretary (Florencio) Abad, ayaw magbigay ng dokumento ng DAP (Disbursement Acceleration Program). Si (PNP chief Alan) Purisima, walang kaso," he added.
He also criticized pronouncements made by Justice Secretary Leila De Lima that the evidence the NBI could gather may be used to initiate an impeachment complaint against him.
Binay also accused the DOJ of turning a blind eye to the administration's DAP, which was declared partially unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
A member of Aquino's Liberal Party, meanwhile, dared Binay to clarify his political allegiance by cutting his ties with the president.
"Matagal naman dapat na kumalas si Vice President Binay... dahil namamangka po siya sa dalawang ilog. Hindi niya malaman ang kanyang tunay na kulay whether he's the opposition leader or an alter-ego of the President being a member of the Cabinet," Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice also told UKG.
"Kailangan din po talaga ng oposisyon sa isang administration. Ngayon kung naglalaro ka, you're either here or there, malilito ang mga mamamayan," he added.
Erice believes, however, that Binay will not risk losing his position in the Cabinet.