Noy dismisses possible disunity with Binay

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has again dismissed possible disunity with Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Meanwhile, Malacañang refused to comment on the confidential letter that Binay had sent to Aquino on Jan. 3, 2011 in relation to the plea bargaining agreement between the Office of the Ombudsman under Merceditas Gutierrez and former military comptroller Carlos Garcia.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said it would be up to Binay to explain the letter since he had admitted sending it.

“Maybe the best person to discuss this particular letter should be the Vice President,” he said.

Lacierda said the government had always believed that it has a strong case against Garcia.

“What’s more important is that we have seen the position taken by the President,” he said.

Sources said Aquino and Binay had not been in agreement on various issues.

Binay wanted the administration to follow the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order on the travel ban against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and allow her to leave, sources added.

Sources said Binay did not support the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona for alleged partiality to Arroyo, which the Liberal Party had pushed.

However, Binay would echo the Aquino’s stand when speaking publicly on issues involving Arroyo and Corona, sources added.

Former Senate president Ernesto Maceda said a vote for Corona in the impeachment trial would be a vote for Binay.

However, Aquino said Maceda never said anything good about him from the very beginning.

“His opinion is his own, not ours, okay?” he said.

“That we will inevitably split – if you look at it, he seems to be wanting disunity, isn’t it?”

Binay’s words are more important as against those of Maceda, Aquino said.

Meanwhile, presidential political adviser Ronald Llamas told ANC on Tuesday night that Aquino would not allow allies of Arroyo to be part of the administration senatorial ticket in 2013.

Aquino’s criteria was clear and he would not sacrifice what he fought for in 2010 in terms of essence and message, he added.

Llamas said they would present the agenda they were pushing and get on board those supporting them.

Those involved in “corruption, impunity and violence” would not be included among Aquino’s choices, he added.

But nothing would be final until October, the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy, Llamas said.