By Joann Santiago
MANILA, Oct. 6 (PNA) — A Palace official on Tuesday reiterated the Aquino government’s commitment to “Daang Matuwid” (Straight Path) and its bid to uphold the rule of law.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a statement, said “the Aquino administration believes in and upholds the rule of law.”
He made the statement in response to Vice President Jejomar Binay’s claim that he expects to be sent to jail or be filed with a case before the Sandiganbayan before or after he files his certificate of candidacy (COC) this month.
“I have a feeling that the demolition by perception will resume either before or after the filing of the COCs,” Binay was quoted as saying during a roundtable discussion with The Philippine STAR editors, columnists and reporters Monday.
The Vice President is one of the three candidates who already declared intention to run for President in the 2016 national polls. The others are ruling party candidate Mar Roxas and independent Sen. Grace Poe.
To date, he is facing three plunder complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged irregularities in the construction of the Makati City Hall parking building, among others.
The said project was constructed during his term as Mayor of Makati City.
Amidst Binay’s claims, Coloma said the Aquino administration will not be hampered by the Vice President’s allegations.
“President Aquino has called for a high level of political discourse that is platform- and not personality-based. We trust that the Filipino people will join us in this advocacy and shun those that engage in the discredited ways of gutter-level partisan politics,” he said.
The Palace official also stressed that the current administration “is focused on implementing reforms and on achieving inclusive and long term growth.”
“Such reforms have also been recognized internationally, and we trust that our Bosses, the Filipino people, will continue to support the President’s good governance platform following the ‘Daang Matuwid’ path,” he added. (PNA)