MANILA, Philippines - Vice-President Jejomar Binay's request for a new office can only be tackled by Congress if Malacañang will include it in the budget proposal for next year, Senator Franklin Drilon said Friday.

"We are not talking about the law in this issue. We are talking about funds. The legislative branch will discuss it if the executive would include it in its proposed national budget for next year," Drilon told ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda earlier said Binay's request for a new official residence is not capricious. He added, however, that the request should be addressed to the heads of both chambers of Congress, not Malacañang.

Binay’s spokesperson, lawyer JV Bautista, said that the Office of the Vice President has been practically a squatter.

He said when former President Joseph Estrada was vice-president, he occupied the old legislative building in Manila, but moved to the Philippine International Convention Center after the legislative building was converted into a museum.

Former Vice President Noli de Castro, meanwhile, held office at the PNB Building in Pasay City, which is now being occupied by Binay.

He said Binay and his minimal number of staff are occupying only half of the PNB Building’s 7th floor, “that is not commensurate to the office.”

Bautista said their request for a permanent and official residence to Malacañang is not only for Binay but also for the future vice presidents of the country.

He said Malacañang should treat the Office of the Vice President with respect and dignity.

“This is not about Jojo Binay, this is about the high office of the Vice President, who is one heartbeat away from the presidency. We should prepare him,” he said.

Bautista said that Binay turned down an offer to serve under Aquino’s Cabinet because he wanted to be a “proactive” Vice President.

He said that a Vice President should not be perceived as a “president in waiting.” He said the Vice President’s function is to talk to the people and the different branches of government and relay to the President what’s lacking in the government’s services.

Binay has said that he would prefer to hold office at the Coconut Palace in the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay City.

Bautista said that if Malacañang is worried about funds, it should consider Binay’s request because it would be saving P800,000 of the people’s money every month for the next 6 years.