AFTER bolting the Cabinet last Monday, Vice President Jejomar Binay officially declared he was heading the opposition by calling out the government's alleged incompetence, lack of sympathy for the poor and selective justice.
At the same time, Binay said he resigned from the government of President Benigno Aquino III because he could no longer tolerate the accusations being hurled by the ruling Liberal Party against him.
"Nagbitiw po ako sa Gabinete dahil hindi ako makapapayag na ipawalang-saysay at siraan ang aking mga programang pang-masa na nagtagumpay sa Makati at nais kong mapalawak sa buong bansa," Binay said before his family and supporters Wednesday afternoon at the Coconut Palace in Pasay City.
"Hindi ako papayag na magpatuloy ang kawalan ng katarungan sa bansa. Hindi ako papayag na iilan lang ang magtatamasa ng benepisyong nararapat sa karamihan," he added.
The Vice President said he is fighting for a government that would let justice and peace reign, and one that would strive to create more jobs to help the needy.
"Ito ang aking ipinaglalaban. Ito rin ang hangarin ng ating mga kababayan: isang pamahalaang kabaliktaran ng manhid at palpak na pamahalaan ngayon," Binay said.
(Video by Ruth Abbey Gita/Sunnex)
Binay said he accepted the posts of chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFWs) Concerns because he wanted to repay the trust of the public that elected him in 2010.
But as time passed by, the Vice President said he realized that only Aquino allies are benefiting from the country's economic progress.
He said the administration is doing its best to block his presidential bid in 2016 because he knew that he is the main obstacle to "their personal ambition and desire."
"At habang ako ay ginigipit at inuusig, hinahayaan naman nila ang malawakang anomalya ng kanilang mga kasama at kapartido: ang Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), ang Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) ng kanilang mga kakampi, kapartido, at kaibigan; ang pangongotong sa MRT, at ang masaker ng SAF 44 sa Mamasapano," Binay said.
"Hindi nila pinananagot ang mga opisyal na pumigil sa pagpapalabas ng 2013 Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) ng mga pamahalaang lokal. Samantalang alam nila na karamihan sa ating mga bayan at barangay ay umaasa lang sa IRA," he added.
Instead of being threatened, Binay challenged his detractors to face him in an honest election.
“Bakit hindi nila ako harapin sa isang malinis na halalan? Alam nila na marami sa kanilang kandidato ang hindi mananalo sa isang malinis at patas na halalan kaya gumagamit sila ng maruruming paraan, sukdulang sila ay magsinungaling, mag-waldas ng pondo ng bayan, at magpatuloy sa paglabag sa batas," he said.
In a statement, Malacañang said it was "unfortunate" for Binay to begin his presidential bid by speaking ill of the Aquino administration.
"He has made the unfortunate choice to commence his presidential run with statements that he could have otherwise discussed with the President as a Cabinet member but chose not to," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.
Lacierda said that Binay, "in opening the next chapter of his political life, has chosen a path that will define him not only as an official but as a person."
The Palace official also wondered that during the five years that Binay was part of the official family, he never spoke anything against the government.
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., LP vice chair, said that Binay should have resigned from the Cabinet much earlier.
“Why did he remain for so long?” the Speaker said.
Magdalo party-list Representative Ashley Acedillo said Binay should have left the Aquino government before the 2013 midterm elections when he fielded his own senatorial candidates.
“Despite the entire current hullabaloo about his recent resignation, it's been more than two years overdue,” said Acedillo.
Caloocan City Representative Edgar Erice, LP vice chair for political affairs, called Binay an "ingrate."
“Yan ang tinatawag na master trapo politician. Wala siyang utang na loob kay Pangulong Aquino, who appointed him (to the Cabinet) kahit hindi siya kakampi ng mga (tiga) Liberal (Party),” said Erice.
The LP official also accused Binay of using his Cabinet posts for political gain.
"Si Vice President Binay wala siyang pakialam ang importante sa kanya sarili niya lang, 'yung kanyang ambisyon kaya walang niho-niha bigla nalang nagbitiw, walang pakialam kung ano mangyari," he said.
Binay’s speech left many hanging questions, Erice said, as the Vice President was silent on the series of corruption allegations being thrown against him and his family.
“It's (Binay’s speech) hollow. Ampaw. He did not answer the allegations against him and I don’t get it. Why did he mention the DAP, PDAF only now, when he served five years in the Cabinet,” said Erice.
Ako Bicol party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe said that Binay's speech was "designed to get the support of the masses."
Batocabe said although the Vice President may have a point that the economic growth has not trickled down to the poor, "it cannot be denied that there is significant growth under Aquino administration."
He said inclusive growth is a “work in progress.”
Despite the move of the opposition to discredit his name, Binay said he is thankful that the public still believe in his ability to serve the country.
In the latest Pulse Asia survey, Binay was rated the most appreciated and trusted top government official despite being hounded by allegations of corruption and unexplained wealth.
The Vice President, however, ranked second to Senator Grace Poe in the recent presidential surveys. (SDR/Sunnex)