Last weekend, the leaders of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) led by former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada and Vice President Jejomar Binay went all the way to Cebu to express support for embattled Gov. Gwen Garcia who is currently holed up in the provincial capitol. Garcia was recently suspended for six months by the Office of the President for grave abuse of authority in connection with a case filed in 2010 by the late Cebu Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. So far, Garcia has chosen not to respect this order and decided to spend the holidays inside her office at the capitol.
During this visit by UNA’s leaders, no less than Vice President Binay told Garcia not to respect the suspension order and just continue to stay in the provincial capitol. Does this mean that the Vice President is now openly defying orders from President Aquino?
From what I recall, Binay has consistently stated these past two years that he is supportive of the present administration where he in fact serves as a member of the Cabinet as chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). If he is now starting to sever his ties with President Aquino and is in fact encouraging Garcia not to respect the rule of law, then he should have the delicadeza to immediately resign from the positions that the President appointed him to. Vice President Binay cannot say that he is a staunch supporter of President Aquino and then does the exact opposite when it becomes more politically convenient for him and his allies.
As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words.
—HARVEY S. KEH,
harveykeh@gmail.com