Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday attended the 29th anniversary celebration of the 1986 People Power Revolution at the People Power Monument, but noticeably distant from the other Cabinet officials who were gathered at the EDSA Shrine.
“May nagtatanong kung bakit ako nandito. Aba, nandito ako talaga noon pa man. At ngayon, nandito ako para sumama sa pagunita ng simbolo ng EDSA People Power Revolution,” Binay said after the wreath-laying ceremony led by President Benigno Aquino III at the People Power Monument.
Binay, who is facing graft and plunder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman, is under Senate investigation for alleged anomalous transactions entered into by the Makati City government when he was still its mayor. He has denied the allegations but refused to attend any Senate hearing.
Asked why he opted to stay at the People Power Monument and not join the other government officials at the EDSA Shrine, Binay said one of the event organizers advised him to do so and not because of any other political reason.
“Unang-una, napag-utusan akong dito bumaba. Ang aking pakiramdam naman, kasi siguro ang nasa isip 'nung nagsabi, dito ako dahil sa kasama ako talaga dito. Kasama ako sa nag-martsa dito,” Binay said, referring to his participation in the 1986 "unity march" that marked the convergence of the civilians and the military to hold a three-day protest at the EDSA Shrine.
“Unang-una, hindi ko pinili (na dito pumunta). Pinagsabihan ako na dito pumunta. Pero, kasi that was part of the program on the unity march. Apparently, this would have been the equivalent of the salubong,” he added.
Earlier in the day the military and the police hold a “unity march” from EDSA-Santolan going to the People Power Monument where they met Binay’s group, who was symbolically representing the civilians.
Binay maintained that he remains to be supportive of the present administration and was not involved in any alleged plot to overthrow the government or to call for Aquino's resignation.
“Hindi ako kasama doon, as early as several days ago sinagot ko na ang tungkol diyan. Ako produkto ako ng EDSA, kailangan manaig ang demokrasya, respetuhin ang ating Saligang Batas. I just have to repeat, I hope and pray that the President can overcome this problem,” Binay said.
Binay was referring to criticisms that Aquino has been receiving following the January 25 Mamasapano incident where 44 policemen were killed in a clash with Moro rebels.
While Binay heads the opposition United Nationalist Alliance, he remains a member of Aquino's Cabinet as housing czar and adviser on migrant workers' affairs.
Binay is a longtime friend of the Aquino family. He has repeatedly said that he owed his political career to Aquino's mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, who appointed him officer-in-charge of Makati in 1986.
Asked on the significance of commemorating the EDSA People Power Revolution, Binay said: “Yung makita at madama ng tao na ‘yung pinaglaban sa EDSA ay nararamdaman. ‘Yun bang pananaig ng hustisya, pagbigay galang sa Saligang Batas.” — © Provided by KBK, GMA News
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