Binay still wants Honasan on VP shortlist

MANILA - Vice President Jejomar Binay is still optimistic that he will be able to persuade Senator Gringo Honasan to remain on his short list of possible running mates in the 2016 presidential elections.

In an interview Tuesday at the Senate, Honasan reportedly said he's not interested in running for the vice presidency.

"Ngayon ko lang nalaman yan. Ako naman naniniwala na si Senator Honasan ay dating sundalo at yan ay susunod kung kailangang magsakripisyo," said Binay in an ambush interview.

But Binay is still keeping his cards close to his chest, not wanting to reveal the names of the other candidates on his shortlist.

Aside from Honasan, two other names are on the list and negotiations with them are still ongoing. "Siguro mga 91% na," said Binay.

Binay said they will announce the name of his running mate either this week or before the month ends.

Meanwhile, the Vice President underscored the need for a decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) on the quo warranto case filed against Senator Grace Poe, one of his opponents in the May 9, 2016 presidential elections.

He said the process lodged before the SET is a necessary procedure that Poe has to undergo to ensure that she has fully complied with the qualifications set by the Constitution for presidential aspirants.

In a radio interview Tuesday, election lawyer Atty. Romulo Macalintal said that in the 2004 decision of the Supreme Court on the disqualification case against then-presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., Justice Reynato Puno said in his opinion that the court may err in its decision because of the application of international and domestic laws being invoked on the case.

Macalintal quoted Puno's decision that the sovereign will of the people should decide the issue.

But the VP does not subscribe to the opinion of the former Supreme Court Chief Justice. "Mali o tama, kailangan masunod yung qualification na yun," said Binay.