MANILA,
Philippines – President Jejomar Binay expressed his interest to tap telecommunications
and media tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan as his team-up in 2016, except that it
respects his decision.
Malacañang
told the reporters there has nothing to do with Binay’s plan.
“Iginagalang po natin ang kanyang
pahayag at posisyon hinggil diyan (We respect his statement and position
regarding that),” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said of the
report during an interview Sunday over state-run radio.
However,
there’s one problem, since Pangilinan already refused the invitation, saying
he has no plans of running for any
public office
Binay
said in an interview with the Inquirer last week that he was convincing
Pangilinan, asking him to be his running mate in the upcoming national
elections.
Binay
wanted Pangilinan due to the tycoon’s track record in business.
While
Binay disclosed his presidential plans even before he was elected vice
president in 2010, President Aquino is still being eyed by the media as to
who will be his successor in the higher office. Meanwhile, Interior Secretary
Manuel “Mar” Roxas II who was his running mate in 2010 already told
the public that it depends on the decision of LP.
Binay
added he had met with Pangilinan and asked the businessman to consider his
offer.
“Bossing,
that’s what I call him,” Binay said, as he refers to Pangilinan.
Aside from Pangilinan’s track record in business
industry, Binay said he also liked the PLDT chief’s strong advocacy of
corporate social responsibility.
