Media not proper venue for Binay to explain, says ally

MANILA, Philippines - Media is not the proper venue for Vice President Jejomar Binay to explain corruption allegations against him, United Nationalist Alliance Interim President and Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco said.

The Binay ally admitted that he suggested that the vice president back out from the supposed one-on-one debate with Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

"Responsibilidad ko ho na pigilan siya... Pinipigilan namin dahil ang makikita ng taumbayan isang VP na araw-araw nagpapaliwanag," Tiangco said during an interview with radio dzMM.

The lawmaker added that it is a political strategy for the vice president to defend himself but he should do it in the proper venue.

On Trillanes predicting that hearings may last until 2015, Tiangco said that prolonging he investigations would be an advantage for Binay's opponents as they may have opportunities to discredit him for the upcoming elections in 2016.

"Ito ho ay ginagawa sa amin dahil sa isang bagay, dahil sa eleksyon. Kailangan kami lumaban dahil sa eleksyon," Tiangco said.

Tiangco noted that the vice president should only explain publicly if it would affect his ratings, adding that the proper venue for public officials with corruption allegations is the Ombudsman and Sandiganbayan.

Binay earlier expressed his intentions to run for president in 2016. The vice president is currently facing corruption complaints regarding the overpriced Makati City Hall Building II, overpriced Makati Science High School building and the 350-hectare property in Rosario, Batangas.