Vice President Jejomar Binay addresses the crowd during the 36th National Conference of Employers at Marriott hotel in Pasay City on Friday. Binay told the business community his family only has five bank accounts, denying the Anti Money Laundering Council report that he owns about 242 bank accounts. (MNS Photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Gregorio Honasan II on Tuesday denied reports that he will be the running mate of Vice President Jejomar Binay, saying he is not interested in seeking the second highest elective post in the country.
“I have not considered it, seriously. I’m busy avoiding you,” Honasan told reporters who caught up with him before the start of the hearing of the Commission on Appointments.
He said he is busy building the United Nationalist Alliance for Binay’s presidential campaign next year, stressing that he prefers to work behind the scene. Honasan is the party’s vice president.
“I’m just helping in his campaign…I’m busy organizing, preparing for the campaign for president. Ang pinag-uusapan ‘yung ground activities, organizing the party at [the] grassroot level, touching base with the local government officials,” he said.
Honasan even described as “masakit na biro” the floating of his name as Binay’s running mate.
Told that it was no less than Binay who said that he was among the personalities being considered to be UNA’s vice presidential candidate, Honasan said: “That is his prerogative but we did not talk about it. In fact, yesterday, [at] the Coconut Palace, I was there for a meeting for UNA, I told them that I’m busy with party building.”
He reiterated that Bi-Hon or Binay-Honasan is not feasible.
“Mahirap ‘yun ibenta, noodles pasiguro,” he said in jest.
Asked if there is anything that will make him change his mind, Honasan said there is none.
“It’s not a matter of changing my mind or not. What I’m saying is I’ve not considered it. It is outside my consciousness, my present activities,” he said.
Asked if UNA is really considering Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to be the party’s vice presidential candidate, Honasan said he is not aware of any initiative but he will support a Binay-Marcos tandem if ever it will pushes through.
“I feel that Sen. Bongbong will make a good running mate. It will project unity. Para sa akin formidable team ‘yun,” he said.
In the same interview, Honasan said he believed that the government should decide now on the burial of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
“The problems of our country are basically economic. But I think the first step should be political like once and for all, deciding when and where to bury President Marcos para magamot na yung mga sugat,” he said.
“That is something that is very procedural dahil sa loob loob ko, antagal naman na burol niyan 30 years,” he added. (MNS)