MALACAÑANG dismissed Tuesday accusation that Vice President Jejomar Binay had become the punching bag of the Aquino administration.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte was reacting to the statement of Makati Representative Abigail Binay, the Vice President's daughter, that her father was already tired of being treated as a punching bag and he feels liberated after his resignation.
Binay resigned from President Benigno Aquino III's Cabinet on Monday which the latter immediately accepted after talking to the Vice President over the phone.
"We do not share the assessment of the allies of the Vice President that he was made a punching bag by the administration," Valte told reporters in a text message.
"We have always endeavored to keep public discourse on programs and policies and not centered on personalities in general," she added.
Aquino is the titular head of the ruling Liberal Party while Binay runs the opposition United Nationalist Alliance.
Valte also said that the Palace could not speak for Binay when it comes to his motivation behind his resignation.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan that Aquino has yet to name Binay's replacement as chairman of the Housing Urban Development and Coordinating Council and Presidential Adviser for Overseas Filipino Workers Affairs.
Coloma also assured that the delivery of services by the agencies that Binay used to head would not be affected.
"Ang tangi lang naman pong naghain ng pagbibitiw ay si Vice President Binay, kaya patuloy po ang serbisyo publiko sa lahat ng mga aspeto ng gawain ng mga ahensiyang napapaloob sa kaniyang sinasakupan dati," he said. (SDR/Sunnex)