Aquino accepts Binay’s resignation

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III (left) and Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay (right) in a Cabinet meeting prior Binay’s resignation (Photo from Aquino’s official Facebook page)

MANILA – President Benigno “P-Noy” Aquino III accepted Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay’s resignation from his Cabinet.

Binay quit his position as the chief of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the Presidential Adviser on OFW Affairs.

He sent the resignation letter through his daughter, Makati Representative Abigail Binay, who personally delivered it to Aquino’s office yesterday afternoon.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. then received the letter in Aquino’s account.

Administration lawyers had long expected Binay’s resignation.

“I felt it was only a question of time that he was resigning from the Cabinet to officially and formally assume the position of head of the opposition party and be its official candidate for president,” Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas said.

Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice, on the other hand, believed that Binay’s move was for political reasons.

“I am sure he has already got what he wanted from the Aquino administration and he is now sure that he will not be endorsed by President Aquino,” Erice said, suspecting that Binay would criticize the administration now that he was no longer a member of it.

“A trapo (traditional politician) at heart and mind, VP Binay will now see and say an all-evil description of the government that for five years he had served,” he added.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, one of Binay’s critics, saw the Vice President’s move as a ‘very positive political development.’

“Finally! This is a very positive political development. Now, there is no more inconsistency in the ‘tuwid na daan’ slogan of the P-Noy administration,” Trillanes said.

Members of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), for their part, believed that Binay’s move was due to ‘personal reasons.’ They also disclosed that the Vice President had long wanted to resign as he felt ‘awkward’ being the ‘odd man out’ in Aquino’s Cabinet dominated by members of the Liberal Party (LP).

Parañaque City Rep. Gustavo Tambunting, however, assured the public that Binay will continue fulfilling his duties sans the position.

“His resignation though should not be seen as an abandonment of his duties or a capitulation to politics. It should be seen as his effort to make a distinction between him and this administration. This will also quell any talk about him using government resources during the upcoming campaign,” Tambunting said.