PNOY, Binay rift widens PRES. AQUINO TELLS BINAY: ‘YOU ARE FREE TO LEAVE…’

By Manny Pinol

An apparently irritated President Benigno S. Aquino III bluntly advised Vice President Jejomar Binay on public TV today that he is free to leave the Cabinet if he no longer agrees with the way the President was running government.

Responding to questions by ANC News team during a live TV coverage of an impromptu press briefing during the inauguration of a Coca Cola plant in Laguna Province earlier today, President Aquino said that instead of criticizing the administration, Vice President Binay should present solutions.

“The problem is during the Cabinet meetings I have not heard him present solutions to the problems he identified,’ the President said.

He said that the Vice President has two options namely to come up with solutions to the problems he has pointed out in his criticisms or leave the Cabinet if he is no longer happy.

The President was reacting to newspaper reports which quoted the Vice President, who is now subject of a Senate investigation for alleged ill-gotten wealth and corruption, airing criticisms against the administration.

It was the second public rebuke by the President of the Vice President.

Earlier, the President corrected the story released by the camp of Vice President Binay which claimed that Aquino offered to help the embattled Vice President in the corruption investigation conducted by the Senate.

Aquino said Binay camp’s statement was actually the opposite of what transpired during their meeting where the Vice President asked the President if the Senate probe could be stopped.

President Aquino, who is known to be sensitive to criticisms, reserved his most scathing remark for an ally who also had complaints about how the government is being operated.

Referring to Party List Congressman Walden Bello, he said: “There is a Presidential election in 2016. If he believes he knows better, he should run for President.”