PNoy confirms telling VP Binay: Talk to senators, not me, on corruption probe

(Updated 7:13 p.m.) President Benigno Aquino III on Monday confirmed refusing Vice President Jejomar Binay's request for him to talk to some senators about the ongoing investigation on corruption allegations against the Binays.

In an interview in Leyte, Aquino said Binay raised the controversies involving him and his family during a two-hour meeting at the presidential residence at Bahay Pangarap that lasted until midnight Wednesday.

"Tinanong niya if I could talk to some of the allies in the Senate. Sabi ko, kako, pakitanong mo na lang sa kanila. 'Yung Senado is known for being 24 independent republics," Aquino told reporters on Monday.

The President said he just assured Binay that he will be afforded his right to due process in facing the corruption accusations.

"Ang sabi ko sa kanya: We will not countenance anybody manufacturing evidence against you. We will try to keep all the processes on a very professional level," Aquino said.

Last week, Binay said his meeting with Aquino strengthened his friendship with him. The vice president is a close friend of Aquino's family.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, however, earlier claimed that Binay asked Aquino to stop the Department of Justice (DOJ) from probing corruption accusations against him.

Binay is facing plunder charges filed by private individuals before the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged anomalies in the construction of the P2.7-billion Makati City Hall Building II, which was built in 2007 when he was still the city's mayor.

He is also being accused of  owning a P1.2-billion "hacienda" in Batangas, supposedly constructed through kickbacks from government projects.

Aquino also confirmed discussing with Binay the DOJ probe on allegations against the vice president and his family.
 
"Kung tama ang tanda ko parang napag-usapan namin. At the end of the day, ang talagang may tasking Ombudsman. Kung may gagawin ang DOJ, ‘di ba, in support lang of the Ombudsman’s efforts," the President said.

Binay camp: PNoy asked how he can help

Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, Binay's spokesman, meanwhile said in a separate statement that President Aquino was the one who asked how he can help the vice president in the face of corruption allegations.

"Our understanding is that in the course of the conversation, the President asked the Vice President about his family and Vice President replied the family is hurting from all the lies and baseless accusations, especially his wife, Dr. Elenita Binay," Remulla said.

"At this point the President asked how he can help or 'paano ako makakatulong?' It was in this context that the Senate was mentioned in the conversation. The Vice President then thanked the President for his concern," he added.

Remulla maintained that the discussion between Aquino and Binay last week was "a meeting between friends" that is "private" in nature.

Aquino, for his part, said that Binay reiterated his support for the administration during last week;s meeting.

"In-assure niya sa akin na ‘yung suporta raw niya as he has committed has not changed until the last day of my mandate," he said.

He added that Binay "has done his assignments" as chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).

Before his meeting with Aquino, Binay had criticized his fellow Cabinet officials, including Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Interior Secretary Manuel Mar Roxas II.

Binay is the prospective presidential bet of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance for the 2016 polls. Aquino has yet to announce his preferred successor. —Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News