MANILA, Philippines – A day before Filipino voters choose their next leaders, the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay stood by the path taken by the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard-bearer in addressing the corruption allegations against him.

In an interview with Rappler on Sunday, May 8, UNA campaign spokesman Mon Ilagan said Binay’s decision not to appear at Senate hearings on corruption allegations against him was just consistent with the Vice President’s position.

Binay has repeatedly said that he would only respond to the claims in the proper forum and would not participate in a politically-motivated probe.

The UNA campaign spokesman also pointed out that the Vice President instead submitted an affidavit to the Senate which stated that there was no proof that the Makati City Hall Parking Building II was overpriced.

“He felt it was a grandiose plan by the opposition to really hit [him] and make several issues. So medyo affected siya (he was somehow affected) and has to answer all of these, but in the right time, in the right place which he believes is the court,” Ilagan said.

This strategy, however, seemed to have affected public perception of Binay. Way back in March 2014, before the Senate probe started, he had a voters’ preference rating of 40%. But in a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted May 1 to 3, 2016, around a week before the polls, the Vice President was in 4th place with 13%.

Asked about Binay’s plans if he becomes president, Ilagan said a Binay presidency would continue good practices of the Aquino administration, and discard ineffective strategies.

Ilagan also expressed confidence that Binay would win the tight presidential elections despite his low survey rankings, and repeat his surprise victory in the 2010 vice presidential race. (READ: Binay camp: Internal poll, ground campaign point to victory)

In his miting de avance in Makati City on Saturday, May 7, the Vice President himself said that the “true” silent majority would choose him on May 9. Supporters of Binay’s rival, administration standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, call themselves the “Silent Majority.” – Rappler.com