Binay rejects Noy’s MMDA job offer
06/24/2010
He may have been elected Vice President by over 14.5 million Filipinos, but to President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, this electorate’s mandate given to Vice President-elect Jejomar “Jojo” Binay should not be given the respect and importance the sovereign will deserves, as the first offer
Aquino made to Binay was for him to merely head the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), a lowly position for an elected Vice President, reliable sources close to the Binay camp told the Tribune.
Aquino is hardly known for his finesse in handling matters diplomatically, as shown in the manner by which he made public his allergy to now retired Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Delfin Bangit with Aquino’s demand for him to resign his post, as he was not going to have Bangit as his AFP chief of staff.
Binay, in 1998, was appointed by former President Joseph Estrada as MMDA chief. Binay was then already a third termer Makati mayor.
Sources told the Tribune that “Noynoy’s offer of the MMDA position was very insulting offer to an elected vice president,” since the post calls for mayors, rather than an elected constitutional heir.
But sources also said that Binay politely refused the offer and reiterated to Aquino that he had earlier sent a formal letter to him three days ago, stating very clearly that he was no longer interested in getting any Cabinet post under Aquino’s administration, although he also said in his letter that he would be extending support to Aquino whenever the incoming President seeks it.
Two more position were offered by Aquino to Binay, after he rejected the MMDA offer: A temporary one, and without any powers at all, as Binay was also offered to head a commission that would probe President Arroyo and her cohorts on graft and corruption allegations.
This was also rejected by Binay.
The last offer was for him to head the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), which is hardly the expertise of Binay.
Binay and Aquino met yesterday at the Times Street home of Aquino.
The meeting, as timed by reporters, took over two hours.
Insiders said that the meeting was cordial, although another said that there was a “coolness” between the two highest elected officials of the land, with warmth markedly missing.
Binay, in a statement, said he refused to accept any Cabinet position from the incoming administration “so as not to burden” Aquino and “allow him to focus on the many challenges facing the nation.”
Binay also assured Aquino of his “friendship and support and readiness to extend any assistance whenever needed.”
Aquino reportedly told media that several positions in government were offered to Binay, but that the vice president-elect declined the offer.
Aquino did not say what government positions he had offered Binay, but it was fairly clear that the offers made by Aquino was to ensure that Binay would have no choice but to decline the offered positions.
There are factions within the Aquino circle that do not want Binay as part of the Aquino administration. But obviously, since Aquino’s sisters, Ballsy Aquino-Cruz and Pinky Aquino-Abellada, have vetting powers in candidates for most, if not all positions, it appears that they too, want Binay excluded from the power circle.
It is also being speculated that the group supporting Mar Roxas was vehemently against Aquino taking in Binay as a Cabinet secretary.
Much earlier, shortly after the polls, Binay publicly made it known that he would like to get the post of the Department of Interior and Local Government, as this was well within his expertise.
Apparently, this position was earlier promised to him by Aquino, who later claimed that the offer to give Binay the DILG post held the condition that he would give up his vice presidential bid and join the LP Senate slate.
Aquino also made it clear that Binay and he no longer hold the same vision, and that he was withdrawing that offer.
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