I THINK of all the problems that Vice President Jejomar C. Binay has right now and of all the attacks that his opponents have launched—and may yet launch—against him. I also think that all these would be investigated by the Senate, especially by the “leading lights” of the Blue Ribbon Committee, who clearly have something against him.
In the committee hearings, these leading lights asked whatever question they had in mind. They covered everything, from inventory items to budgetary matters. They think they have him.
Well, Binay is not that easy. He questioned the authority of the committee, saying that the case pending before the Sandiganbayan should settle it all. He claimed that the prices of all the items in the inventory are reasonable.
The Vice President’s opponents, however, insist that these items are underpriced to allow for a bigger cut for the commission members and the official concerned. The public doesn’t know what to make of this. It’s true that Binay’s ratings are down. But no matter, they’re only temporary. His ratings will improve over time, and he will be elected president.
As for Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, I don’t know if he wants to be as popular as President Aquino. I have a feeling that he doesn’t, because being popular may force him to do something that may be against his conscience. For example, he may not want the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, but he may be forced to accept it, because that is what the Liberal Party (LP) wants. LP feels that this is the way to gain popularity, but Roxas may disagree. Good luck to him, in any case. This is how the cookie crumbles, so to speak. This is the price the government will have to pay. It’s more about the dictates of practicality and less a problem of conscience. What can be done gets done at the first opportunity.