Palace mum on Binay letter

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang refused to comment on the confidential letter that Vice President Jejomar Binay sent to President Benigno Aquino III in January 2011 in relation to the plea bargain deal between the Ombudsman and former military comptroller retired Maj Gen Carlos Garcia. (Read the full story here.)

Asked about a Rappler exclusive on Wednesday, April 25, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said: “I cannot comment on that particular letter of the Vice President because, first of all, I have not seen the letter and this is the first time I was made aware that the Vice President wrote a letter in regard to General Garcia. So we will leave it with the Vice President to comment on that particular letter he wrote to the President.”

Asked if Malacañang would confirm the existence of the letter, Lacierda added: “I think if I’m not mistaken Vice President Binay confirmed that he sent the letter so I’m… Maybe the best person to discuss this particular letter should be the Vice President.” (Read the statement of the Binay camp here.)

Lacierda said that the President has always believed that the government had a strong case against Garcia. “What’s more important is that we have seen the position taken by the President.” – Rappler.com