PNoy still trusts VP Binay

President Benigno Aquino III remains confident of Vice President Jejomar Binay and his work in the Cabinet.

Nothing against Binay

In an interview with radio dzRB, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the continued stay of Binay in the Cabinet means Aquino still trusts the Vice President, adding that the President has not expressed any contradicting statements to that.

Binay is the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Affairs and is also the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

However, Coloma reported that all executive offices are undergoing auditing.

“All executive offices, all Cabinet members are covered by the principles of transparency and accountability,” he said.

Controversial issues

Asked if the current issues being thrown against Binay may drag down the Aquino government, he said: “We should assess how he’s performing as head of those two agencies he is handling. That’s where he is expected to perform as a member of the Cabinet.”

Binay is facing plunder and corruption issues for the alleged overpriced projects in Makati.

Senate probe’s ‘expanded’ coverage

What started as a Senate probe into the allegedly anomalous Makati City Hall Building II, the weekly investigation is now delving into the Vice President’s supposed assets in Rosario, Batangas.

Binay denied the allegations, saying those issues were meant to derail his 2016 plans. Thus, he has continued to say that he will not participate in the probe.

It remains to be seen if the Vice President will show up at the Senate on November 6, the date stated in the formal invitation to him.

Not planning for 2016

Meanwhile, Coloma dismissed talks that the administration is now looking to Senator Grace Poe as the Liberal Party’s contender for the 2016 elections.

“We don’t talk about candidates and politics. What the President wants is the Cabinet and the government to focus on their work,” he said.