We can’t afford an inexperienced president – Binay

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – There was no promise of dentures, adult diapers, or Viagra for senior citizens this time – as he did on his first day here – but Vice President Jejomar Binay assured Negrenses here he could offer them the “experience, qualification, and the passion” if they choose him to lead the country in 2016.

The same way that an executive has to have experience to lead a big corporation, a president who will run the country for 6 years should not waste 3 or 4 years to learn what the job entails, Binay told a multi-sectoral crowd Friday evening, July 17.

“We cannot afford to vote a president who has not undergone experience, was not given the opportunity to show that he or she is competent and doesn’t have a passion for his or her country,” the Vice President emphasized. 

Binay was joined by daughter Senator Nancy Binay, Philippine Councilors League Chairman Alma Moreno, and former Quezon Representative Danilo Suarez in the “fellowship night” with multi-sectoral groups at a gym in Barangay Villamonte in this city.

Binay remained unfazed even if Negros Occidental was a known bailiwick of Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II – the latter’s mother, Judy Araneta-Roxas, is from Bago City.

In the 2010 elections, Roxas had an overwhelming win against Binay in the province, as he garnered 707,313 votes while the latter only got 221,679 votes.

This doesn’t seem to bother the Vice President, who said he felt the “warm welcome” of the people in Bacolod.

Binay’s fellowship night with the multi-sectoral groups was attended by 500 persons. The only local elected officials who attended were Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano, provincial chairman of United Nationalist Alliance, and Pulupandan Mayor Miguel Peña.

Both Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr and Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier declared their support for Roxas, the presumed presidential bet of the administration party.

Roxas was very instrumental in the realization of the Negros Island Region.

The top provincial officials believed that Roxas is competent to run the country and their support has nothing to do with the secretary’s favorable endorsement to President Benigno Aquino III of the creation of the Negros Island Region.

On Thursday afternoon, July 16, Binay had requested to meet the governor at the capitol, but the latter was already on his way to Valencia, Negros Oriental, for the signing of the sisterhood agreement of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Binay believed that the elected officials in the province are divided – some of them are for Roxas, some of them are for him.

In fact, he revealed that they’re studying a possibility of fielding a gubernatorial bet against Marañon.

“That’s one of the reasons why I’m here. For consultations,” Binay said. He refused to disclose who he is eyeing to challenge Marañon in the next polls.

No harm in courting Negrenses

Like her father, Senator Binay said she wasn’t bothered if Negros Occidental was tagged as “Roxas’ country.” She stressed that “there’s no harm in courting the votes of Negros. He presented what he will do for the province. Hopefully, he was able to convince our constituents here.”

When pressed if they were able to meet with the local officials here, she said, “We met with Silay Mayor Jose Montelibano earlier, but we would rather go straight to the people more than the local politics.”

Asked if they were snubbed by the elected officials, the senator said: “I don’t think so. Ours is a multi-sectoral approach. When we launched UNA, we wanted it to be a party of the people. That’s what we’re doing.” – Rappler.com