Aquino on Binay: I gave him the chance not to become a spare tire

VP Jejomar Binay (left) and President Benigno Aquino III (Photo by Dondi Tawatao)

MANILA — President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday slammed Vice President Jejomar Binay after the latter resigned and spoke against his administration.

Aquino said he could not understand why Binay had to speak ill against his administration when he has given Binay all the opportunity “not to become a spare tire.”

“Hinalal siya ng taumbayan, binigyan ko (s’ya) ng lahat ng pagkakataon para hindi s’ya maging spare tire,” Aquino said during the Livestock expo and convention in Manila.

(He was elected by the people, I gave him all the opportunities not to become a spare tire)

“Ipinagkaloob natin sa kanya ‘yung pagkakataon na manaliti ‘yung kanyang popularity ratings bagama’t hindi natin siya kaalyado ‘nung tumakbo sa eleksyon, bagama’t ‘nung 2013 e nandun siya sa kabilang grupo. Hindi natin siya parang pinigilan na ‘yung magkaroon naman ng pagkakataon na marecognize ‘yung kanyang trabaho,” he added.

(We gave him the chance to maintain his popularity ratings though he wasn’t an ally  during the elections, and even when in 2013 he was with another group. We didn’t stop him from being recognized for his work.)

Aquino appointed Binay as the head of the National Housing Authority and he also granted Binay’s request to appoint him the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Affairs.

Aquino also said that all this time, Binay may have had some “secrets on how to better run the country” but he failed to share this with the current administration that he had been a part of.

“Kung may maitutulong ka sa ikakabuti ng taumbayan na pinangakuan nating paglilingkuran, bakit mo naman isinisikreto?” he said.

(If you can contribute to the betterment of the people who you pledged to serve, why would you not help.)

The President said that he believes that Binay has the responsibility of sharing whatever it is that he knows to run the government properly.

“Palagay ko may obligasyon siya na miyembro siya ng Gabinete na ibinahagi niya ito ,” he said, echoing his earlier statements on Binay’s criticisms against the administration.

(I think he has an obligation as a member of the Cabinet to share those things.)

Aquino also said that Binay resigned after realizing that he would not get the President’s endorsement for next year’s election.

“Baka naman napag-isip siyang hindi siya ang ma-e-endorso natin, so kailangan ipakita niyang hindi niya kailangan ‘yung endorsement o may mas maganda siyang kayang magawa,” he said.

(He might have realized that he wouldn’t get our endorsement so now he has to show the public that he doesn’t need it or he can do better.)

Aquino also lamented the Vice President’s move to criticize the administration after he has established a good relationship with him.

“I treated him as a member of the official family. We’ve been through a lot,” he said.

“Siguro ganyan talaga ang pulitika sa ating bansa (Maybe that is really how politics works in the Philippines),” he added.