Binay Camp Lobbies for DILG post

As far as Cabinet posts are concerned, it’s the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) or bust for incoming vice president Jejomar Binay.

On Wednesday, Binay’s election lawyer Aquilino Pimentel III said the outgoing Makati City mayor feels his skills can be best applied in supervising local governments.

"Kung hindi DILG, huwag na lang, he is on his own. Sayang ang talent and skills kung di gagamitin ng presidente at ilalagay sa tamang pwesto for a mayor who served for 22 years ay walang iba kundi ang DILG (If he cannot get the DILG post, forget it, he’ll be on his own. It will be a waste of talent and skills if the president will not tap his 22 years experience in local governance for the DILG)," Pimentel said in an interview on dwIZ radio.

He said Binay is not likely to accept posts like the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), saying Binay’s skills will not be maximized by representing the country abroad.

Pimentel also said Binay wants to prove a vice president is not a spare tire, and wants to be a "working vice president."

"Masipag ito at action man (Binay is hardworking and an action man)," he said, adding work with local governments is "second nature" to him.

Pimentel said the National Anti-Poverty Commission may not be good enough for Binay, saying it is a commission under the Office of the President.

"Masyadong mababang pwesto yan to be given to a VP (That’s too low a post to be given to a VP). A VP is entitled to a Cabinet position," he said.

Fiscalizer

At the same time, Pimentel said Binay will be a fiscalizer but only in the sense of speaking his mind if he feels there are better ways of getting a job done.

"Kung may isa-suggest na may mas magandang gawin he will do it. He speaks his mind pero in that sense. In the sense na guguluhin ang presidency ni Noynoy Aquino di niya gagawin (If he can suggest a better way of doing things, he will do it. He speaks his mind. But his work as fiscalizer is only in that sense. He will not disrupt the work of the Aquino government)," he said.

The camp of incoming president Senator Benigno Aquino III said it will name members of the Aquino Cabinet soon after the scheduled proclamation on Wednesday.

So far, those sure to serve in the Aquino Cabinet are Corazon Soliman (social welfare), Teresita Deles (presidential peace adviser) and Paquito Ochoa (possibly as executive secretary or Justice chief)