Binay: ‘True’ silent majority will choose me on May 9

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Unfazed by survey ratings that placed him near the tail-end of the presidential race, Vice President Jejomar Binay boldly predicted that the “true” silent majority would choose him on May 9.

In his final plea to voters in his miting de avance in Makati City on Saturday, May 7, Binay said his confidence is based on his meetings with ordinary folk across the country during the campaign period that ended that day.

“Iisa lang ang sinasabi nila: si Jojo Binay ang iboboto nila sa Mayo 9….Kayo ang mga hindi pinapansin, ang mga walang tinig. Kayo ang mga tunay na silent majority….At ang inyong damdamin, ang inyong tunay na saloobin, ang isisigaw ng tunay na silent majority sa araw ng halalan – Only Binay!” he said.

(They’re all saying one thing: they will vote for Jojo Binay on May 9….You who  have been neglected; you who have no voice. You are the true silent majority….And you, the silent majority, will shout out your true sentiment on election day – Only Binay!)

“Magtiwala kayo, sa araw ng eleksyon, magtatagumpay tayo! Mananalo ako bilang pangulo ng Pilipinas! (Trust me, on election day, we will succeed! I will win as president of the Philippines!)” Binay added.

Supporters of administration standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II call themselves the “Silent Majority.”

The Binay camp believes the Vice President’s extensive ground campaign and his political machinery would be enough to bring him to victory. (READ: Binay camp: Internal poll, ground campaign point to victory)

Binay used to be the poll front-runner among presidential candidates, hitting a high of 40% in April 2014, but the yearlong Senate probe into corruption allegations against him when he was Makati mayor eroded his ratings. The final round of surveys conducted by independent pollsters ranked him 4th among 5 candidates.

The Binay camp estimated the crowd attendance at 60,000, though the Makati police said only about half of the said number attending his MDA. 

Aquino’s legacy

The Vice President urged President Benigno Aquino III to – like his mother, the late President Corazon Aquino – leave “a legacy of democracy and election results that truly reflect the people’s will.”

“Mister President, ako po ay nakikiusap sa inyo hindi bilang pangalawang pangulo kundi bilang isang karaniwang Pilipino. Sana po ay gamitin ninyo ang inyong kapangyarihan bilang ama ng ating bansa upang tiyakin na malinis at mapayapa ang halalan sa darating na Lunes,” he said.

(Mister President, I’m appealing to you not as vice president but as an ordinary Filipino. Please use your power as father of the nation to ensure that the elections are clean and peaceful.)

He also urged the Commission on Elections to ease any lingering concerns on the conduct of elections on Monday, and for the police and the military to truly serve the people on May 9.

In an interview with reporters after event, Binay said he will fight for his presidential bid until the end. – with a report from Mara Cepeda/Rappler.com