Binay not keen on accepting another Cabinet position

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay denied yesterday that he is keen on accepting another Cabinet position once President Aquino implements his plan to revamp the Cabinet next month.

In an interview with former ambassador Ernesto Maceda over radio dzRJ, Binay said he had made plans as presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) concerns and as head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and handling the affairs of the Pag-IBIG Fund and National Housing Authority (NHA).

“I would not want that. But whatever is the President’s will prevails,” Binay said.

Binay said he will politely turn it down should Aquino offer to him the post of secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“I had planned a lot with my job in the housing sector and OFWs. If he (President) will offer it to me, I will tell the President to allow me to stay with my job in the meantime,” Binay said.

Binay said Cavite Rep. Ayong Maliksi would be a welcome addition to the Cabinet (as interior secretary).

“Well, that is what rumor has been circulating. He is probably one of the most qualified, having served as a mayor, governor and now congressman,” Binay said.

Binay said he considered the vice presidency as a “complaint box.”

“You will hear the complaints. From time to time, you have to coordinate with the executive department,” Binay said.

Binay said most Filipinos fall prey to illegal recruiters because workers allow recruiters to victimize them.

“I always say that 80 percent of the problems arise among OFWs because they allow themselves to be victims of illegal recruitment,” Binay said.

Binay confirmed that for the past three months the Cabinet has not conducted any formal meetings.

“A month or two, we have not had formal meetings. Mostly cluster meetings. The last that I attended was on the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). No formal meeting. We have cluster meetings with the executive secretary,” he said.

Binay also admitted that he had thought of running for president in the 2016 elections.

He said, however, that it is embarrassing to talk about his presidential bid for 2016 since it is still very far away.

“At times, I’m thinking about it. But it is embarrassing to talk about it yet because it is still very far. We had just finished with the campaign and we are also busy with the President’s campaign for his various programs. We don’t have time for that yet,” Binay said.

Binay was the running mate of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) standard-bearer and former President Joseph Estrada during the presidential elections last May.

He also refused to say who among Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, former senator Mar Roxas, Senators Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Francis Escudero could be considered as possible opponents for president in 2016.

“This early, there are many possible presidential candidates. But many among the four will run for vice president,” Binay said.

Binay won against Roxas, who ran as the vice presidential bet of Aquino under the Liberal Party (LP).

The Vice President was one of the closest friends of Aquino’s mother, former President Corazon Aquino.

Binay always acknowledged his debt of gratitude to former President Aquino, who brought him into politics from being a human rights lawyer during the Marcos regime by appointing Binay as officer-in-charge of Makati.

He had been Makati mayor for almost two decades before he became vice president.