MANILA, Philippines – The Binay family feud continues to heat up in Makati City, as Junjun Binay and his two siblings banded together against the reelection bid of their sister, Mayor Abby Binay.

Older sister reelectionist Senator Nancy Binay and younger Anne Binay are supporting the mayoral bid of their only brother. (READ: Junjun Binay on rival sister Abby: ‘She’s being driven by vengeance’)

The two Binay sisters raised Junjun’s hands at his proclamation rally on Saturday, March 30, a day after Abby launched her own reelection bid in Makati City. Their youngest sister Joanna Marie was absent in both proclamation rallies.

In their speeches, Anne and Nancy took swipes at Abby, with whom their relationship had soured since Junjun challenged Abby for the mayoral post.

Anne represented their father, former vice president and now Makati congressional candidate Jejomar Binay, but she opened her speech with a reference to Abby.

“Ay tama po, mas maganda ako do’n, mas mabait ako, at hindi po ako maldita! Pero po bago po ‘yon, nandito po ako para sa tatay po namin. ‘Wag ‘nyo na po siyang hanapin. ‘Andito naman po kaming magkakapatid,” said Anne. 

(Oh yes, I am prettier than her, I’m nicer than her, and I’m not a brat! But before anything else, I’m here for my father. Don’t look for him anymore. My siblings and I are here anyway.) 

Nancy heaped praises on Junjun, describing him as the most experienced among the siblings when it comes to public service, as Junjun was only15 years old when he first served as Sangguniang Kabataan president in 1992.  

“Siya po ang kilala ko at kilala nating lahat na mabait, tunay, at tapat magserbisyo. Sa amin po, siya talaga ang aral pagdating ho doon sa serbisyong  Binay na sinimulan ng aking ama,” said Nancy. 

(I know him, and everyone knows him, as kind, genuine, and honest in his service Among us, he is the one who really studied the Binay brand of service started by my father.) 

She called Junjun the “returning mayor” of the country’s premiere business district.

Junjun and Nancy told reporters they were willing to settle their differences with their sister. But Abby, in an earlier interview with reporters, said she believed the sibling rivalry had gone so deep that the family feud would remain even after the May elections.

The Binay clan decided to field Abby for mayor during the 2016 polls after Junjun was dismissed from office in September 2015.

The Ombudsman had found him and other city officials guilty of the administrative charges of serious dishonesty and grave misconduct over irregularities in the construction of the Makati City Hall Parking Building II.

In May 2018, the Court of Appeals (CA) overturned Junjun’s dismissal, arguing that the condonation doctrine – which the Supreme Court struck down in November 2015 – still applied to him. The CA upheld this decision earlier this month. 

Junjun to bring back ‘serbisyong Binay’

Abby’s candidacy is endorsed by their father, who did not attend Junjun’s proclamation rally.

Junjun did not have any grudge against his father, and even carried Binay as his congressional candidate for the first district of Makati.

Junjun promises to bring back the true Binay brand of service in Makati, and to unite city hall officials who ere now supposedly fighting under Abby’s leadership.

“Kasi habang tumatagal, nagkakawatak-watak ang mga opisyales ng ating city hall. Nagkaroon ng kampihan at nawala ang pagkakaisa… Ito ang pangalawang dahilan ng aming pagbabalik – upang ibalik ang pagkakaisa sa ating lungsod,” said Junjun.

(As time went on, the city hall officials became divided. They took sides and unity was lost…. This is the second reason why we wanted to return – to bring back unity in our city.)

Junjun then called on Makati residents to vote for him and the rest of his Team Be Nice slate “to restore the true Binay brand of service.”

Like in Abby’s proclamation rally, several celebrities were present as Junjun launched his mayoral bid. Musician Paolo Santos and band Southborder performed songs for the crowd. Comedian Candy Pangilinan was one of the hosts. – Rappler.com