VP names possible Cabinet members

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay said only people with integrity, track record and competence would be appointed as members of his Cabinet, as he named some individuals whom he would invite to be part of his official family if he is elected on May 9.

In a roundtable discussion with The STAR editors and reporters on Monday night, the United Nationalist Alliance standard-bearer stressed the need to appoint people with executive ability to handle the problems in their respective agencies.

Binay said he would invite former trade secretary Peter Favila and former finance secretary Gary Teves to return to their old posts.

Favila and Teves, who are Binay’s economic policy advisers, had served during the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Vice President confirmed earlier reports that he would appoint outgoing Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla to the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Pag-IBIG president Darlene Berberabe to the Department of Education.

He said he has other people in mind, but refused to identify them.

He is planning to appoint a former commissioner to the Bureau of Customs and hinted on the possibility of inviting Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco to join his Cabinet after his term expires next year.

He was still thinking about the successor of Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares, whom he previously said would be replaced 30 minutes after taking his oath.

The Vice President bared plans to push for legislation that would break up the existing Department of Transportation and Communications and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to improve the delivery of services in each sector.

He expressed support for the creation of a Department of Information and Communications Technology, which is awaiting the signature of President Aquino.

On Supreme Court appointments, Binay said only those who have wisdom and extensive experience in the practice of law would be appointed.

The next president will appoint 10 associate justices to the 15-member SC during his or her term.

More attacks vs Duterte

Binay has intensified his attacks on presidential frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte and even dared the tough-talking Davao City mayor to reveal the true state of his health.

In a two-minute video posted on his official Facebook account yesterday, Binay appealed to voters not to elect Duterte as they might regret their decision later.

He said a Duterte administration is “even worse than martial law.”

“Because during martial law, they hid human rights violations and even denied committing such for several times. But Duterte, who is a lawyer and a former fiscal too, is proud to admit killing people. He is unlawful,” he told journalists covering his campaign sortie in Tangub City, Misamis Occidental.

“Killing people with their hands tied is not courage. It is an act of cowardice.”

The Vice President described Duterte’s challenge to face him in a debate as a “cheap gimmick.”

“We have nothing to debate on. He already admitted killing people,” he said.

State of health

Binay questioned Duterte’s ability to lead the country, saying the mayor pretends to be strong but is actually suffering from an ailment.

“Sakitin ho yan eh (He’s sickly),” he said without elaborating. “Maybe Duterte should issue even just a certificate that he’s in the pink of health.”

In previous interviews, Duterte admitted suffering from Barrett’s Disease, Buerger’s Disease and back pains due to a motorcycle accident years ago.

When asked if he thinks Duterte can finish a six-year term, Binay said: “I doubt.”

Not a threat

Despite Duterte’s surge in the latest presidential surveys, Binay said he does not consider the mayor a big threat to his candidacy.

“Ever since, I don’t believe Duterte will win. First of all he will not win in Luzon. Luzon is number one in terms of the number of voters. I think 54 percent of the registered voters are from this region.”

Neither does he see a landslide victory for Duterte in Mindanao, the mayor’s bailiwick.

“Mindanao is very large and Duterte has only Davao,” he said.

Better than Aquino

Binay said his presidency would be different from the present administration in that he would be hardworking compared to President Aquino.

Unlike the Aquino administration, he will give his Cabinet members more leeway in running their departments, stressing the need for decentralization and devolution.

“The problem with Aquino is he doesn’t know how to delegate tasks. His management style is highly centralized, so problems are aggravated because his subordinates don’t want to be scolded,” he said.

Binay said he would be reaching out to the people more by establishing Malacañang satellite offices in Cebu, Northern and Southern Luzon and Mindanao, among others.

The Vice President also gave the Aquino administration a failing mark for its “mismanagement” of the country.

“I will give the present administration a failing grade in the management of our country.  I’ll give him a four (in a scale of 1-10).”

Binay said Aquino would leave the country in a sorry state as he failed to address poverty.

Asked why he deserves to win the presidency, Binay said he is the only candidate with competence, the track record and first-hand experience of poverty as a young boy.

Binay said wants to see the lives of every Filipino improved when he steps down from office.