FILE PHOTO: Si President Benigno S. Aquino III at si Vice President Jejomar Binay noong nakaraang Vin d’ Honneur sa Malacañan Palace sa (January 12). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Jejomar Binay confirms his attendance on Monday for Pres. Benigno Aquino III’s final SONA, despite the fact that he is no longer a member of the cabinet.
VP Binay said being in the opposition does not mean they will no longer listen to the president’s SONA.
“May imbitasyon sa akin ang Kongreso. Dapat nandoon ako at pakinggan natin ang mensahe ng pangulo. Hindi naman laging porke hindi ka sang-ayon ay ‘di ka makikinig.”
(The Congress sent me an invitation. I should be there to listen to the president’s message. Just because you disagree all the time does not mean you will not listen anymore.)
Meanwhile, the vice president plans to deliver his own state of the nation address but clarifies that it is definitely not an anti-SONA.
“Bakit ba naman kontra? Napaka-negative naman ‘noon. Abangan ninyo, the true State of the nation.”
(Why anti? That’s too negative. Wait for a true state of the nation.)
Binay also says it really doesn’t matter to him if he’ll be seated beside the personalities whom he filed a 200-M peso law suit against because his intention is merely to listen to the president’s report.
“Aba, ‘yun ang aking isang paraan lang para matigil at bilang sagot doon sa mga pagsisinungaling at paninira sa akin.”
(Well, that’s one of my ways to stop [them] and in response to the lies and criticisms thrown against me.)
VP Binay is currently in Tayabas, Quezon to attend the 200th birth anniversary of Apolinario de la Cruz, better known as “Hermano Pule” who was among the frontliners of the revolution against the Spaniards.
During his speech at the memorial shrine of Hermano Pule in Arias, Brgy. Isabang, VP Binay recounts the items that the current administration should address for the benefit of the Filipino people.
“Iba ang karanasan sa teorya. Iba ang pangako sa nagawa na. Hindi nabigyan ng pansin ang mahihirap dahil hindi naman nararamdaman ng mga nasa administrasyon ang kahirapan.”
(Experience is different from theory. A promise is different from what has been done. The poor are not given much attention because those in the administration have never been experienced poverty.)
VP Binay is expected to be in Iloilo City as guest speaker in the annual convention of the Philippine Public Health Association. (BRYAN DE PAZ / UNTV News)