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United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) Interim President and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco believes Vice President Jejomar Binay wasn’t treated well by the administration.
Tiangco doubts President Noynoy Aquino had no prior knowledge of the investigation of corruption allegations against Binay. He explained, “Lahat ng gusto ni PNoy nakukuha niya. [Sinabihan ko nga si Vice President Binay,] ‘Sir, hindi ako naniniwala na hindi alam ni PNoy yung plano ng Liberal Party na siraan ka. Hindi ako naniniwalang hindi niya alam ang plano na gamitin ang Senado para siraan ang iyong pagkatao.’ Matagal ko nang sinasabi iyan kay VP Binay (PNoy gets everything he wants. I said this to Vice President before, ‘Sir, I don’t believe that PNoy doesn’t know about the Liberal Party slamming you.’ I don’t believe he doesn’t know about the plan to use the Senate to ruin you.’ I have been saying that to VP Binay).”
Tiangco added: “What PNoy wants, PNoy gets.”
The UNA official admitted the personal relationship between Binay and Aquino is a sensitive topic he does not want to raise.
However, Tiangco also said, “[Binay’s] relationship with the president is something I don’t want to get into. Tingin niya kay Pangulong Aquino, hindi siya gagawan ng isang bagay na mali at tingin niya kaibigan niya si Pangulong Aquino. Hindi ganoon ang pananaw ko sa bagay na ‘yun (He thinks President Aquino isn’t capable of doing him wrong and that they’re friends).”
Tiangco maintained Binay has always spoken up about his reservations in some issues hounding the Aquino administration.
He said Binay has been vocal about several issues, including the Disbursement Acceleration Program and the death of the 44 Special Action Force troopers.
He said Binay served the Cabinet well. Still, Tiangco said Binay is just one voice that was easy to ignore in the Cabinet.
“Napakadaling sabihin ni Pangulong Aquino na sana kinausap siya. Sa Supreme Court nga, hindi nakikinig, kay VP Binay pa kaya (It’s easy for President Aquino to say that VP Binay should have talked to him. Well, the man didn’t listed to the Supreme Court, so how much more with VP Binay)?,” he said.
Tiangco dismissed congressman Edgar Erice’s comment that Binay was only critical of the president after Aquino refused to endorse him.
“Cong Erice is entitled to his opinion,” he said. He said Binay did not ask for an endorsement, but support for clean elections.
Meanwhile, Tiangco wished Senator Antonio Trillanes good luck on his plans to run for vice president. Trillanes is one of Binay’s zealous critics.
Tiangco also admitted he hopes to be Speaker of the House in a Binay administration.
Text: RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News
Photo: News clip
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
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