MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Makati City Mayor Abby Binay won her reelection bid, but she is not rejoicing. 

She said she’s hurting from the defeat of her father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, in the congressional race. 

“Ang awkward lang ‘pag nagko-congratulate kasi ‘di ako masaya. Sabi ko nga natalo ako kasi natalo daddy ko (It feels awkward when someone congratulates me because I’m not happy. I feel defeated because my dad lost),” Abby told ABS-CBN News on Tuesday, May 14, with tears in her eyes.

“I don’t feel victorious today,” she added.

The Binay patriarch’s electoral defeat comes in the wake of a bitter family divide over control of the city they ruled for decades. Abby’s reelection bid was challenged by her own brother, former Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay. 

Jejomar Binay campaigned for Abby but his wife Elenita campaigned for Junjun. Senator Nancy Binay also sided with Junjun. (READ: Emotional Abby Binay tells Makati: My dad joined my team because of you) 

The former vice president lost even if both Abby and Junjun campaigned for him.

He bowed down to Liberal Party’s Kid Peña, who received 71,035 votes. He got 65,229 votes.

“Medyo ironic kasi sinasabi natin walk in the park naman ‘yong kay dad. ‘Yong mabigat na laban was ‘yong sa akin. So in a way, si dad, hindi naman siya kumakampanya para sa sarili niya eh. Kumakampanya siya para sa akin, para doon sa team,” said Abby. 

(It’s quite ironic because we’ve been saying my dad’s bid was a walk in the park. I thought I was facing the harder contest. So in a way, my dad wasn’t campaigning for himself. He was campaigning for me and the team.) 

It was Jejomar Binay’s first electoral defeat in Makati. It’s also his second straight loss in a national elections after finishing 4th in the 2016 presidential race. 

Abby, however, claimed they have received reports that the sample ballots that Junjun’s team distributed in the city supposedly had Peña’s name, not their father’s, as the candidate for congressman in the first district.

“‘Di ba sinasabi nila na common candidate ‘yong ama namin? Pero kapag tinignan mo ‘yong mga sample ballot nila, ‘yong mga sample ballots nila no’ng night before, pati mayroon kaming mga reports na natatatanggap na ilalaglag siya,” said Abby.

(They said our father was our common candidate, right? But if you look at their sample ballots, the sample ballots they distributed the night before, we received reports my father was going to be dropped.)

Rappler already sought Junjun for comment, but he has yet to reply.

Senator Nancy Binay, the eldest among the siblings, said the allegations that Junjun allegedly junked their father should not be given credence, especially now that the elections are over.

She said it seemed there are forces bent on sowing intrigues to prevent their family from patching things up after the bitter rivalry in the Makati polls.

Peña, meanwhile, said Abby’s camp has the “right to bring the matter in the proper venue,” similar to when he tried to contest Abby’s victory against him in the 2016 mayoral race.

“For me, the people have spoken. My heart bleeds for VP Binay, my former ally and inspiration in becoming a public servant. His family needs him now and I encourage all to pray for his wellness so he may continue enjoying the fruits of his labor,” Peña said. – Rappler.com