Manila: Philippine Vice-President Jejomar “JoJo” Binay has resigned from the Cabinet of President Benigno Aquino III, officials said on Monday.
Joey Salgado, head of media affairs in the office of the vice-president, said the country’s second highest elected official had tendered his “irrevocable resignation” and that the notice is effective immediately.
“Makati Representative Abigail Binay [Jejomar’s daughter] hand-carried the vice-president’s resignation letter addressed to President Aquino,” Salgado said.
Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa received the resignation letter at 3.55pm, he added.
As vice-president, Binay also holds the cabinet post of presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) concerns and is chair of the state socialised housing concern, the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG.
The latest development comes as the country is due to hold its next general elections sometime in May 2016.
Binay has publicly declared that he will seek the presidency in 2016.
Binay had also been reported to be courting Aquino’s support before and his decision to quit is being seen to have been a result of his overtures being rejected.
Known to be personally close to Aquino, the two apparently had a falling out due to politics. The President is a member of the ruling Liberal Party while Binay had gone on to form his own political coalition in preparation for his presidential bid.
Surveys conducted early in his six-year term as vice-president strong support for him, however this faltered after he had been pilloried in the Senate and the media amid allegations that his family is involved in defrauding the government through onerous contracts that include the construction of buildings in Makati City.
Former Makati City vice-mayor Ernesto Mercado had accused Vice-President Binay and his family, namely incumbent Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, daughter Senator Nancy Binay and Makati Rep Abigail Binay of getting kickbacks from the P2.126 billion (Dh174 million) contract for the construction of a parking building in Makati City.
Apart from allegations that he used the Senate as a forum, President Benigno Aquino III also ordered a probe into the corruption allegations through the Department of Justice.
In early May, the Anti-Money Laundering Council ordered a freeze on the bank accounts and investments of the Binays and their associates.
The Binays reportedly have a total P11 billion (Dhs 901.81 million) in their various bank accounts in the Philippines as well as abroad.
But Binay said he is undeterred by the recent developments.
Salgado said despite the relentless attacks from his opponents, Binay remains thankful for the “unwavering support” from Filipinos.
In the Social Weather Station poll carried out from June 5-8, Binay’s 34 per cent preference rating placed behind Senator Grace Poe’s 42 per cent in a field of four likely candidates for the presidency.
The other two candidates are Interior Secretary Mar Roxas (21 per cent) and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (20 per cent.
During the 2010 elections Binay won with a delicate margin of 727,044 votes from a voter turnout of 38,149,371 to win against Mar Roxas, the candidate of the ruling Liberal Party.
