MANILA, Philippines – Capping his campaign to return to city hall, Makati mayoral bet Junjun Binay promised voters he will fight for them as he did for his father, former vice president Jejomar Binay.

On Saturday, May 11, the only son and namesake of the elder Binay recalled the cases they both had to face, leading to Junjun’s suspension from office in 2015.

“Kahit pinaratangan po ako, kahit pa ‘yung mga kasong walang basehan, ito po ay hinain po sa akin, hinding hindi ko pagsisisihan dahil hanggang sa huli, hindi ko po iiwan ang tatay ko. Ipaglalaban ko po ang tatay ko,” said Junjun during his miting de avance.

(Even if they accused me, even if they filed cases without basis against me, I do not regret it because until the very end, I will not abandon my father. I will fight for my father.) 

“At kung gaano ko po ipinaglaban ang tatay ko, ako po ay nakatayo ngayon, nakaharap po sa inyo, ganyan din po ang gagawin ko. Ganyan ko rin kayo ipaglalaban. Ipaglalaban ko po ang lungsod ng Makati,” said Junjun. 

(And the way I fought for my father – I am standing in front of you right now – will be the same thing I will do again. I will fight that way for you. I will fight for the City of Makati.)

He is challenging the reelection bid of his elder sister Abby, whom the Binay clan fielded for mayor in 2016 after Junjun was dismissed from office in September 2015. 

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

But in May 2018, the Court of Appeals overturned Junjun’s dismissal, arguing that the condonation doctrine – which the Supreme Court struck down in November 2015 – still applied to him.

Junjun and his father, also a longtime Makati mayor, are set to face trial before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan over the allegedly overpriced Makati Science High School building.

While the family patriarch has chosen to stick it out with Abby during the 2019 campaign, Junjun is not holding any grudges against Jejomar and even carries his father as his congressional candidate for the first district. (READ: Emotional Abby Binay tells Makati: My dad joined my team because of you) 

Junjun’s mayoral bid is backed by his sisters Anne and reelectionist Senator Nancy Binay, as well as his mother Elenita Sombillo Binay, who gave him a a glowing recommendation on Saturday night. – Rappler.com