Palace disputes Binay claim of being left out in the cold

NOT TRUE.

Malacañang has disputed Vice President Jejomar Binay’s claim that he was being left out of important state functions where he would normally be invited as the second highest ranking government official.

“Contrary to claims that Vice President Binay has been disinvited from state functions, an invitation was extended to the Vice President for the state luncheon in honor of Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (on Aug. 28),” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told reporters yesterday.

But the Vice President did not attend the luncheon, Valte said.

Binay said in a recent interview with another newspaper that he was not invited when the Thai prime minister met with President Aquino in Malacañang in August.

The opposition leader and presidential candidate also said that after he resigned from the Cabinet in January, “I haven’t received any invites.”

But Binay said he was not complaining, adding that President Aquino is still his friend.

He recalled that the last time he personally spoke to the President was four months ago during a Cabinet meeting at the Palace.

Earlier, Malacañang assailed the Binay camp for allegedly “dishing out lies” against the President.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, in a text message to the INQUIRER, said Binay continues to attack the President because he refuses to answer convincingly all allegations of corruption and illgotten wealth against him.

“We have yet to hear a response (from Binay) other than ‘it’s just politics,’” he also said.

According to Lacierda, the Vice President “started off his campaign with lies, and so we are obligated to speak the truth to him,” he said, stressing that “we did not start this fight.”

He said they would continue to speak the truth to dispute Binay’s alleged lies.

“It’s not personal, it’s just the truth. Unfortunately, Mr. Vice President, you don’t seem and you can’t seem to handle the truth,” he said.

Lacierda said Binay used to praise the administration’s accomplishments when he was still with the Cabinet.