VP Binay: ‘Mar Roxas declaration will boost my candidacy’

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay said on Friday, July 31, that the declared presidential bid of Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II would “boost” the opposition leader’s candidacy, as the public would now compare their track records.

Asked about the relevance of Roxas’ declaration to him, Binay said in a media interview in Cavite City, “Pinatitingkad lamang niyang pagkakandidato ni Mar Roxas na malaman ng tao na si Jojo Binay ay kandidato sa pagka-pangulo (The declared bid of Mar Roxas only boosts public awareness that Jojo Binay is a presidential candidate).”

Among reported aspirants, only Roxas and Binay have declared their intention to run in the 2016 presidential race.

Sought for a clarification, Binay said in Filipino that he believed Roxas’ declaration would boost his candidacy as now, “there will be a comparison [between us] in terms of experience, competence, and concern for the country.”

Asked what grade he would give Roxas, Binay referred to the “leak” in the roof of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1). Roxas was transportation secretary before he was appointed to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Binay said in Filipino that his advantage over Roxas is “competence and the ability to demonstrate leadership.”

The Vice President added, “Alam mo, ang advantage ho no’n [ay] hindi na makakalimutan ng tao na tinalo ko na ho [si Roxas] (You know, my advantage is that the people will never forget that I beat [Roxas]).”

Binay edged then front runner Roxas by less than a million votes in the 2010 vice presidential race. (READ: Mar Roxas: The long road to endorsement)

‘Real change vs novelty items’

At the endorsement of Roxas at Club Filipino on Friday, President Benigno Aquino III took indirect potshots at the Vice President, and used this to differentiate Binay from his candidate.

In this speech, the President said that Roxas’ ratings in presidential preference surveys are not high as he is focused on “real change” instead of going around for photo opportunities and giving away “novelty items” with his name on them.

“Ang sa akin po: Ang mga magagandang nagawa ay totoong nangyari, maski hindi ibandera ito. At sa pagpili natin, ako nga po, tulad ninyo, hindi ko na kinokonsidera ang mga klarong epal, at taliwas sa tuwid na landas,” Aquino said.

(For my part: The triumphs of one person do not vanish into thin air, just because he does not broadcast them. And in choosing, I, like you, do not consider those who are clearly credit mongers, and those who have clearly strayed from the straight path.)

Binay resigned from his Cabinet positions in June, reportedly after it became clear that he would not get Aquino’s endorsement. He has been going around the country, even before his resignation, to “introduce” himself to the people.

The Vice President used to be the front runner in presidential preference polls until neophyte Senator Grace Poe dislodged him from the top spot. The Vice President’s numbers had been affected by allegations of corruption when he was still Makati mayor.

During the interview, Binay also denied reports that Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao would not run under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) ticket in 2016.

He said Pacquiao himself had denied the report to former Manila mayor Lito Atienza. “Basta’t kami [ay] magkakasama. Walang iwanan (We’re all together. No one’s leaving),” the Vice President said. – Rappler.com