MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay took his campaign to Las Piñas on Monday, February 29. 

While the city is dominated by members of the Nacionalista Party of the Villars, Binay still thanked Las Piñas residents who helped him win in the 2010 elections. 

“Mga taga-Las Piñas, salamat po. Binoto niyo ‘ko at lumamang po ako sa kalaban ko pa rin hanggang ngayon ng 20,000 boto mahigit-kumulang. Maraming, maraming salamat po,” said the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard-bearer before a crowd of about 200 at the Balikatan Covered Court. 

In 2010, Binay got 93,958 votes against the 73,243 votes of then-Liberal Party vice presidential bet Manual “Mar” Roxas II.

Las Piñas has over 304,000 voters registered for the May elections. 

During his speech, Binay cited his experiences as former housing and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affairs czar as part of his qualifications to run for president. (READ: Return of the ‘juggernaut’? What Binay needs to do to win)

“Naalala ko pa na si Mayor [Nene] Aguilar, kasama ko pa sa pagbibigay ng titulo rito, dito sa Las Piñas. Marami ho akong nabigay na titulo na matagal na panahon na halos puro pangako. At nabanggit po kanina ni Senator Gringo Honasan, ay yung OFW. E dito ho sa Las Pinas, ‘di ko lang po malaman kung gaano karami ho ang natulungan ko na bumalik sa atin dito sa Pilipinas. Talagang pinersonal ko na matulungan ‘yung ating mga kababayan na gusto na hong umuwi galing sa Middle East,” said Binay. 

(I remember that Mayor Nene Aguilar would join me while I was giving land titles here in Las Piñas. I was able to provide land titles that were just promised to some. Senator Gringo Honasan also mentioned that I am OFW affairs czar. Here in Las Piñas, I can’t even recall how many OFWs I’ve helped return to the Philippines. I made it a personal mission to help our countrymen go back home from the Middle East.)

Binay hits Roxas

The former Makati mayor, who resigned from the Aquino Cabinet in 2015, also took a swipe against his rival Roxas. 

“Dapat ho ang magiging pangulo ay nakapagpakita ng kakayanang mamahala. Hindi ho yung baka nga may karasanan [pero] gusto niyo na naman ‘yung may traffic na namamahala? Yung MRT (Metro Rail Transit) na mamamatay kayo sa nerbyos? E ‘yun ay karanasan pulos kapalpakan naman,” said Binay. 

(The next president should be able to show that he can lead. Do you want someone who won’t be able to address traffic? Or the MRT problem that causes widespread worry? That’s experience filled with failures.) 

He then reiterated a classic campaign message: that what he has done in Makati as former mayor, he will do with the rest of the country if elected as president. (READ: Cinderella Man)

These include abolishing income tax for those earning P30,000 and below, free school supplies and uniforms for 20 million students, free healthcare for all, and expanding the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. (READ: Binay: ‘This is the eve of our freedom from poverty’)

“Ako sa aking pamamahala, ‘di lamang sa pagiging mayor kundi sa pagkapangalawang pangulo, nagawa ko ho nang tama ang aking dapat gawin (As former mayor and now Vice President, I have done correctly the things I had to do),” said Binay, who faces accusations of corruption and unexplained wealth during his time as Makati local chief executive. 

The Ombudsman already found probable cause to indict him for criminal charges over the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Parking Building II. His son, dismissed Makati mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr, and other city hall officials, are already facing criminal charges before the Sandiganbayan.

Short campaign day

After short speech, Binay and UNA bets begin motorcade around CAA compound pic.twitter.com/NQy1Q5Tpgs

— Mara Cepeda (@maracepeda) February 29, 2016

Binay’s sortie on Monday was brief, with just a two-hour program at the covered court followed by a tour of the surrounding CAA compound, then a quick lunch at the food court of the nearby SM Southmall.

This is quite rare for the Vice President, who regularly holds sorties that last up to 10 hours on a daily basis despite his old age. (READ: Binay’s campaign ‘steps’: Can you keep up?)

Members of his camp said Binay is attending private engagements on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday, the Vice President and his party are set to campaign in Romblon. – Rappler.com