Aquino To Binay: "Offer No Longer Stands"

"I want to make clear that my candidate and my one and only partner in this fight is Mar because I am sure he will continue our plans," said Liberal Party standard bearer Benigno "Noynoy" S. Aquino III, in reaction to reports that several groups are supporting a "Noybi" tandem, a monicker referring to the latter and to Makati Mayor Jejomar "Jojo" Binay.

The Noybi tandem gained steam when Binay revealed to media that he was asked by Aquino to head the Department of Interior and Local Government in case he wins the presidential elections on May 10, 2010.

Aquino did not deny making the offer, but explained that "while it is true that I did discuss with Mayor Binay the possibility of his getting the DILG portfolio when we were engaged in talks to unify the opposition, subsequent events have caused me to revisit this position. No further discussions since that one several months ago have been held."

Aquino stressed that "this grueling and jump-started campaign has succeeded because of the people and our extremely close and harmonious relationship with Mar Roxas. The division of labor has born fruit because there is a singularity in vision and a unity even of methodology. If we win what ought to be done has to occur in the context of a six-year term, and to do this, we must work with a team with whom we share a vision and a commonality of purpose - attributes possessed by my partner, Mar Roxas."

When asked whether his offer to Binay still stands, Aquino replied: "I am no longer confident that the good mayor and I share a common vision and therefore the past offer then is no longer valid."