Binay backs out of debate

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay backed out yesterday from his much-awaited debate with Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV scheduled on Nov. 27, saying he did not want to appear “opportunistic and oppressive.”

“Huwag na natin ituloy. Ayoko na kung ganyan sinasabi niya (Let’s not push through with it. I am backing out if that’s what he’s saying),” Binay told journalists when asked for his comment on Trillanes’ claim that the Vice President, being a lawyer, has the advantage in the debate.

The Vice President announced his decision when he celebrated his 72nd birthday yesterday at the headquarters of the Philippine Marines at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig.

Binay, a reserve Marine colonel, had joined the Marines in early morning exercises and walk around Fort Bonifacio.

“I don’t want to appear that I am taking advantage of it,” Binay said, referring to the debate. “My only advantage is we will talk about facts.”

The decision is final, he said.

“I don’t want to be accused of
being opportunistic and oppressive,” he said.

Asked when he decided to back out of the debate, Binay replied: “Ngayon lang (just now).”

Binay said the corruption allegations against him have not affected his performance ratings.

“In my stint as VP, I consistently ranked no. 1 (among top government officials),” Binay said, referring to the previous approval and trust ratings conducted by survey firms Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations.

After the exercise with the Marines, Binay, wearing a Navy athletic shirt and shorts, led the troops in a traditional boodle fight with a menu of adobo, pansit, steamed eggplant, okra, tomatoes and bagoong (fish paste) inside the Marine auditorium.

In his speech before the troops, the Vice President said he made the right choice when he joined the Marines as a reserve officer.

“I am a proud member of the Marines. I picked this branch of service because the Marines are great warriors,” Binay said.

In an interview later before leaving the Marine headquarters, Binay surprised reporters when he declared that he is no longer engaging Trillanes in a debate.

“Ayaw ko na,” Binay declared, saying that he is backing out of the much-awaited debate because of what he has been hearing from Trillanes, that he (Binay) is a lawyer and a debater while the senator is portraying himself as an underdog.

Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla, Binay’s spokesman for political concerns, said the Vice President wants to concentrate on helping in the recovery program for the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas instead of engaging in a debate with Trillanes.

“The VP realized that engaging a debate with Senator Trillanes is a disservice to the millions who still have to recover from the Yolanda tragedy,” Remulla said.

“Now is not the time for talk but for action,” he said. “The VP is prioritizing the country over self, recovery over bickering, the people over himself.”

Remulla said Binay would be in the Visayas next week to oversee the housing projects for the typhoon victims.

He said Binay’s detractors should bring their case against him to court.

“The truth of the allegations is now in the hands of the ombudsman,” Remulla said.

Binay himself had proposed to the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) to organize a debate where he was supposed to address accusations against him.

The KBP said it respects the decision of the Vice President not to push through with the debate.

Binay and Trillanes’ camps had already agreed to hold the debate on Nov. 27 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City after the Vice President earlier challenged the senator to a debate.

According to the KBP, the debate would have covered the following topics:

Is the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing on Binay justifiable?

Are PDAF and DAP legal?

Does Binay own the Batangas farm?

Is the Makati City Hall Building II overpriced?

Palace respects Binay’s decision

Malacañang respects Binay’s decision to back out of the debate with Trillanes but kept mum on its possible effect on the 2016 polls.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said they would have monitored the debate had it pushed through.

“We’re pretty certain that the Vice President weighed all of his options when he made the decision to not push through with the scheduled debate. Perhaps, there will be other opportunities for him to air his side,” she added.

Valte declined to comment on claims that Binay’s decision would erode his credibility.

“The Vice President will be in a better position to answer that particular observation from Sen. Trillanes,” she said.

“There are other venues that are available to the Vice President who may want to share with the public his side of the story. There are other media outlets, other opportunities for the Vice President. It will be up to him to assess that; we cannot dictate.”

When asked if she thinks Binay’s move would benefit the administration’s presidential bet for 2016, Valte said: “We do not know for now.”

“The President has not mentioned anything about his candidate for 2016. Again, the President is focused on many other issues that need to be addressed by the administration,” she added.

Valte also dodged questions on whether Binay is qualified to succeed President Aquino.

“The President has laid out a framework – he’s spoken about this on a number of occasions. He has mentioned that he has been thinking of ways on how to perpetuate reforms, on how to continue them, he wants someone that will be able to carry the burden as gracefully,” she said.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said he was surprised by the decision of the Vice President to cancel the scheduled debate with Trillanes.

Parañaque City Rep. Gustavo Tambunting said Binay’s decision to back out of the debate with Trillanes IV should be respected.

“Whether it will have an impact on his credibility, only time will tell,” said Tambunting, who belongs to the United Nationalist Alliance headed by Binay.

Binay had snubbed the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing on various corruption allegations against him last Nov. 6, saying he has been “prejudged” and any explanation to prove his innocence would be “useless.”

Binay is accused of amassing public funds while he was Makati mayor, particularly the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall parking building.

He was also accused of owning a vast estate in Rosario, Batangas and of maintaining secret accounts in foreign banks.

Binay has repeatedly denied all accusations against him.

A Marine officer claimed that a majority of the Marines support the decision of Binay to back out from the debate with Trillanes.

The officer, who refused to be identified, said the Marine Corps is not into politics nor is it siding with Binay or any politician.

As a reserve Marine officer, the Vice President has been regularly visiting military camps.

Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office (PAO) chief, said that the Vice President is always welcome to visit camps because he is the second highest elected official of the land.

Former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said his birthday wish for Binay is for the Vice President to become the next president.

Estrada ran but lost in the 2010 presidential elections while his running mate Binay won as vice president.

“I wish him to become president,” Estrada said.

Estrada said poor Filipinos need Binay, who knows how it is to be poor. – With Jaime Laude, Alexis Romero, Jose Rodel Clapano, Paolo Romero