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MANILA, Philippines – Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay is arguably the most controversial newbie for the very reason she was elected: her father, Vice President Jejomar Binay.
The self-styled muse of the macho or minority bloc, Binay stood by allies Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile all throughout the pork barrel saga. She said the investigation should extend to NGOs other than those of alleged mastermind Janet Napoles.
As chairperson of her lone social justice committee, she led hearings into NGO accreditation, and said she wants to simplify the process currently involving public and private bodies.
In politics and Senate work, Binay is her father’s daughter. She called for a probe into the police’s alleged removal of developer Delfin Lee from its Most Wanted list, an issue her father questioned.
She also scrutinized the housing budget of the interior department headed by her father’s rival, Mar Roxas. She said the National Housing Authority (NHA) has the mandate for the programs. She later drew flak for adding P300 million to the NHA budget, with her father as housing czar.
In her first ever government post, Binay has a perfect attendance record in sessions as of March. While criticized in the campaign for her refusal to debate, Binay grilled the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in budget hearings and got officials to admit that they had no satellite phone, generator set and tent at the height of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
The “forever personal assistant” again stirred controversy over the Dasmagate incident involving her and brother, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay. The senator netizens love to hate dismisses criticism against her family as black propaganda, “all about 2016.” She responds with candor, humor and the occasional sarcasm.
On Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s swipe on Dasmagate, she said, “I am not one who comments on every issue just to get publicity and advance any political plans.”
Following through with her campaign promise, Binay filed 64 bills mostly on women and children. Elizabeth Angsioco, national chair of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines, told Rappler that Binay has a mixed record in legislation on women.
Angsioco said Binay’s Anti-Electronic Violence Against Women bill is her most important. “It is necessary considering the many forms of harassment and abuse done using ICT. As someone who helped craft and worked for the passage of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children law, I know that we did not anticipate the rapid developments in ICT.”
The women’s rights advocate though said that Binay’s Rest Period for Women Employees bill reinforces the thinking that women are weaker than men. Angsioco suggested that Binay coordinate with women’s groups because some of her bills “may not be the most pressing issues that urgently need addressing.”
Angsioco also differed with Binay’s anti-Reproductive Health (RH) law stance. “One cannot be pro-women and go against her right to decide on her own body in the same breath. The RH issue is a cutting-edge issue for women’s rights … It is the ordinary women in poor communities who stand to benefit the most.” – Rappler.com
See Binay’s 2013 candidate profile in our election microsite.
See assessments for other neophyte senators:
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