PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines - Vice-President-elect Jejomar Binay reiterated that he's not seeking any post under incoming President Benigno Aquino III's Cabinet, not only to avoid adding to the new administration's problems, but also because he doesn't feel accepted by the Aquino camp.

"Sa ngayon, mahirap sabihin na tanggap ako doon,” Binay told reporters in Puerto Princesa City, where he witnessed Mayor Edward Hagedorn take his oath on Saturday before Chief Justice Renato Corona. “Baka mangungulila naman ako doon.”

Binay refused to elaborate on this further, but said that in the first place, he never demanded that he be given a position in the Cabinet.

He said the media took his statement out of context when he said he wanted to be secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), when he simply stated that his experience and credentials make him fit for the job. (Click here for story.)

“’Di ko naman sinabing ibigay mo sa akin yan. ‘Di ko naman sinabi na ‘yan lang. Maliwanag ‘yon,” he said. “Kaya lang, sa daloy ng pagkakataon, nawala na ‘yong sagot. Naging demanding na,” he said. 

Aquino had said he wants other people for the job, like former Naga City Mayor and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Jesse Robredo.

Binay was offered positions in other agencies—Department of Agrarian Reform, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and a new agency to probe outgoing President Gloria Arroyo—but he was not interested. (Click here for story.)

His running mate, former President Joseph Estrada, told him to reconsider his decision, but Binay said there’s no turning back. (Click here for story.)

The incoming vice president said that more than anything, he wants to focus on his own duties as vice president. “Pabayaan n’yo muna akong maglingkod bilang vice president,” he said.

“Talagang gusto ko patunayan, among other things, na hindi spare tire ang opisina ng pangalawang pangulo. Marami akong tratrabahuhin,” Binay said. 

Binay meets Corona

Binay and Corona met each other on Saturday after Corona administered Mayor Hagedorn’s oath.

The two had a brief conversation about Binay’s daughter, Abigail, who will take her oath before Corona as representative of Makati City’s 2nd district.

Binay said he was not able to ask Corona if he will attend their inauguration. Aquino had refused to take his oath before Corona, insisting his appointment was unconstitutional.

Following protocol, the inauguration committee had already sent invitations to all Supreme Court justices.

But in an interview shortly before he left for Manila, Corona said he still cannot decide whether to attend the inaugural or not because he has not seen his invitation yet.

“Interview me again once I’ve seen the invitation,” he said in Filipino.