Jejomar Binay: 'Vice president should have regular Cabinet post'

MANILA, Philippines — Former vice president Jejomar Binay will push for an amendment in the 1987 Constitution particularly on a provision giving a permanent job to the vice president. 

Binay emphasized the vice president should have an important role and will not only serve as spare tire for the presidency.

“Like in the US, the vice president is the presiding officer of the Senate. What about here? The vice president merely looks up at the sky, still hoping and wanting to play a major role in government,” Binay said.

He said the vice president should be given a role that is not connected to politics, similar to the arrangement made when he was still in office. 

In the proposed federal charter of the consultative committee (Concom) created by President Duterte, the vice president shall be appointed as member of the cabinet, which shall not require confirmation. 

Aside from giving job to the vice president, Binay proposed the president and vice president should be elected as one, which means a vote for the president is automatically a vote for the vice president. 

Binay’s proposal is also under the Concom’s proposal of the proposed federal charter. 

Unlike the Concom’s proposal, Binay wants an extended term for local government officials to fully serve their constituents. 

Binay said three years for a local official is too short.

He also wants to strip the vice mayor’s role as presiding officer of the council. 

Similar to what he experienced, Binay said the vice mayor, especially if coming from the opposing party, would usually block the signing of the city’s budget despite approval from the council.