Aquino aunt says VP Binay was sent proposal to head gov't

President Benigno Aquino III's aunt, former Tarlac governor Margarita Cojuangco, admitted that there was a proposal sent to Vice President Jejomar Binay to head the government once the President resigns, GMA 7 news program “24-Oras” reported on Tuesday.



According to Cojuangco, who was in favor of Aquino resigning, the proposal had asked Binay, as the country's second highest ranking official, to lead the government with an advisory council.

“I really don't know his reaction. He doesn't have anything to do with this but it was presented to him. Itong council would be a council to aid the head of government,” Cojuangco said.

The proposal was sent following the January Mamasapano clash, which Cojuangco believed was mishandled by the Aquino administration.

But Aquino's uncle and Margarita's spouse, former Tarlac representative Peping Cojuangco, denied that he was among those seeking the President's resignation.

Nevertheless, an advisory council could still be created to help the administration.

Meanwhile, Binay denied having ties with groups that sought the President's resignation, nor was he asked to support the proposal. “Hindi ako kasama doon. Hindi ako naniniwala sa objective,” Binay declared.

“Kung saan ako naroroon, utang na loob ko po yan sa pamilya ng Aquino. Pero more than that, 'yung mga ipinaglaban ko nakataya dito. Sumali ako, nagtaya ng buhay ko doon sa paniwala kong tunay na demokrasya.” he added.

Earlier, some members of the National Transformation Council, which included Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, had called for Aquino to resign over the handling of the Mamasapano clash. — Andrei Medina/DVM, GMA News