Aquino sisters not backing VP Binay’s presidential bid

L-R: Kris Aquino, Ballsy Aquino-Cruz and Pinky Aquino-Abellada
(Photo from Kris’ official Instagram account)

MANILA – The sisters of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III admitted that they will not be supporting Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay’s presidential bid in next year’s national elections as he first turned his back against their brother and even criticized his administration.

Prior the falling out with longtime family friend Binay, presidential sister Kris Aquino disclosed that she and her sisters were willing to support the Vice President’s presidential candidacy in the coming national elections if he would be running under a unity party with the Liberals.

“My sisters and I have been talking about it (Binay joining LP), and we say that if this can bring about unity as… we’re not enemies… and if he continues what Noy (Aquino) has started, why not?,”  the Queen of All Media said in Tagalog.

But just recently, Binay resigned from Aquino’s Cabinet and announced leading the opposition.

In a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, Maria Elena “Ballsy” Aquino-Cruz and Aurora Corazon “Pinky” Aquino-Abellada stated that they could no longer support Binay after he slammed their brother’s government as ‘palpak’ (inefficient) and ‘manhid’ (insensitive).

“He has spoken, it’s all different now… Binay is still our friend, but he is going against our brother,” Cruz said in the report.

“I am only human. As Ballsy said, the difference is very clear. We just have to respect each other,” Abellada said, adding that they were hurt by Binay’s words.

Abellada also clarified that she and her sisters never directly said that they would support Binay in 2016 should he seek higher office.

“Last year, we were hoping for him not to run so he would remain an ally of the President,” she said.

But given that they have been friends with the Binays for so long, Cruz hoped that their good ties with the Vice President’s children and other relatives would remain intact.

“I can’t drive away or throw away a person we have been together with for a long time just because of what is happening now. I try to understand that is his role. His other children who have been nice, I really want them to be friends for life,” Cruz said.

Pro-Roxas

While not backing Binay, Abellada claimed that they have always been in favor of Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II amid rumors that they ditched him in the previous elections and voted for the other candidate instead.

“Up to the end, we were Noy-Mar. My feeling is that these are just part of the intrigues. As far as the sisters are concerned, we were really stuck to the ticket and we made it clear to Secretary Mar,” Abellada said.