VP Binay: Mar’s candidacy will highlight my strength

Published July 31, 2015 5:57pm

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday said Interior Secretary Mar Roxas’ impending candidacy for the 2016 presidential election will highlight his strengths as a leader when compared to the Cabinet secretary.

“Pinatitingkad lamang n‘yang pagkakandidato ni Mar Roxas na malaman ng tao na si Jojo Binay ay kandidato sa pagka-pangulo. Dahil ho magkakaroon ng comparison sa bahagi ng karanasan, kakayahan, at malasakit sa bayan,” Binay told reporters in Imus, Cavite.

Binay issued his remark following the endorsement Roxas got from President Benigno Aquino III earlier in the day at the historic Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan.

“Mga Boss, idinudulog ko po sa inyo ngayon: Sa akin pong opinyon, ang nagpakita na ng gilas at ng integridad, ang hinog at handang-handang magpatuloy ng Daang Matuwid: walang iba kundi si Mar Roxas,” Aquino said before his political allies.

Downplaying the event, Binay said that with Aquino’s endorsement, the people can now start examining the possible presidential candidates.

“Today is the day. Tapos na ang hele-hele. And today is the start of pagsusuri kung sino ang kandidato. Ano ba ang karanasan? Ano ba ang kakayahang naipakita?” he said.

Asked on his advantages over Roxas, Binay mentioned his experience and that he beat the former in the 2010 vice presidential race. Roxas has a pending electoral protest against Binay at the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

“Uulitin ko sa’yo – karanasang hindi palpak, kakayahang nagpakita kung paano ang pamamahala. Alam mo, ang advantage ho no’n [ay] hindi na makakalimutan ng tao na tinalo ko na ho [si Secretary Mar Roxas],” he said.

Drama, panic

The Vice President, who is hounded by allegations of corruption, also mocked Roxas’ emotional acceptance speech. “Kita mo, sabi na sa inyo magda-drama drama lang ‘yon.”

Binay even described the event, dubbed as “gathering of friends” as a form of panic.

“Nagpapakita [ito] na sila ay nagpa-panic. Napaparating ninyo ‘yong mga nakikita at marami ng nakikinig. Halata namang binubusisi na kung ano nga ba talaga ang kanilang klase ng pamamahala,” he said.

The Vice President seemed unfazed with the President’s statement that LP should help Roxas increase his ratings.

“Ang diperensya nga ay hindi naman maganda ang pamamahala ng mga ‘yon. Iyong aming makinarya, talagang malapit sa bayan, malapit sa mga kababayan natin,” he said.

Latest results of popularity surveys, however, show that it is Sen. Grace Poe who is leading the pack, followed by Binay and Roxas. Poe has yet to categorically state her political plans for 2016.

As of posting time, GMA News Online could not get a reaction from Roxas' camp.

But in a text message to GMA News Online, Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice, LP vice chairman for political affairs, said Binay is becoming irrelevant in the upcoming elections simply because he had been exposed.

"The Filipino people will not elect somebody who is perceived to be very corrupt," Erice said.

Earlier in the day, presidential spokesman Secretary Edwin Lacierda lashed back at Binay’s camp for downplaying Aquino’s endorsement of Roxas.

“E bakit ho niya [Binay] hinangad ang endorsement ni PNoy noon? Intindihin na lang po natin, baka bitter si VP Binay,” Lacierda said in a text message.

Meanwhile, Binay was asked if he thinks Roxas should now resign from the Cabinet. To which, Binay replied: “Bahala na sila roon. Maraming nagsasabi na, for delicadeza naman, mag-resign ‘yong mga hindi halal.” — RSJ, GMA News

Tags: jejomarbinay, marrocas, eleksyon2016