Binay camp not affected by CBCP rejection

Vice President Jejomar ‘Jojo’ Binay (Facebook photo)

MANILA – The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay is not affected by a report saying that an official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) does not want him to become the country’s president in the next elections.

United Nationalist Aliance (UNA) interim secretary general and lawyer JV Bautista said that the camp of the Vice President respects the leaders of the Catholic Church.

However, he noted that if the law will be used as basis for leadership succession, Binay will step up in case something ever happens to the President.

“We have high respects for the Catholic Church. We follow them especially on spiritual matters.

But if it’s about the government, we need to follow the system as stated by the law,” said Bautista.

He added, “The Vice President was selected by the people as the second highest official in the country.

Under the Philippine Constitution, if something happens to our President – may it be voluntary or by act of God – the Vice President is expected to step up.”

Earlier, CBCP National Secretariat for Social Action executive secretary Fr. Edu Gariguez said that he does not want President Aquino to resign because he believes Binay would be a worse leader.

“I don’t want to call for Aquino’s resignation because Binay will replace him. And that’s even worse, it’s scary,” said Gariguez.

He also said that Binay’s explanation to the CBCP were “unconvincing.” He added that if Binay will be the president, it will be like the administration of former President Joseph Estrada and First Lady Imelda Marcos.

Gariguez though claimed that what he said were his personal opinions and not the official stand of the CBCP.