MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III did not ask Senate President Franklin Drilon to end the Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee inquiry into the allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay, Malacañang clarified on Wednesday.
"We wish to correct the report that states that the President wanted the Senate investigation of Vice President Jejomar Binay stopped. For the record, what the President did was to relay the request of the Vice President to the Senate President," Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in statement.
Lacierda added that before Aquino conveyed Binay's request to Drilon, he already informed the Vice President that the 24 senators cannot be dictated upon.
Aquino also did not say that he asked Drilon to end the Senate probe during his interview with Philippine media at the end of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Summit in China.
"He also stated that he respects the co-equal branch that is the Legislature... Thus, at no time in the media briefing did the President mention that he wanted the investigation stopped," Lacierda said.
Drilon earlier revealed that Aquino called him to relay Binay's request, but he denied that the President was asking for a favor and exerting pressure.
In the interview in China, Aquino said the Senate probe on Binay "has to be attended to" but the chamber should balance politics and its responsibilities.
He called on the Blue Ribbon Comittee to present all the evidence against Vice President Jejomar Binay instead of in piecemeal so as not to disrupt legislative work.
"Does it have to be in dribs and drabs? Can we not have the whole list? Is the proof really… Is the proof really there? Is it substantial proof or what-have-you?" Aquino said.
He noted that there are still pending bills in the Senate such as the proposed national budget for 2015 and the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
Aquino believes, however, that the Senate has responsible members who are attending to their other functions besides the inquiry into the allegations against Binay.
The Vice President is being investigated for allegedly earning kickbacks from various Makati City projects and for not declaring a purported 350-hectare Batangas property in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.
Despite the allegations, Aquino said he cannot kick Binay out of the Cabinet because he has been performing his duties well as housing chief.
"The Vice President also, without taking any side, is also entitled to presumption of innocence until proven guilty, which is a fundamental right," Aquino said.
The President had denied that he offered to help Binay when they met last October in Bahay Pangarap to discuss the corruption allegations against him.