Binay patriarch confident of Nancy’s win
Former Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay on Monday said he is confident that his daughter, Sen. Nancy Binay, will win the mayoralty in Makati City, which he described as “Binay territory.”
“Of course,” he told reporters who asked if he believes his daughter will emerge victorious. “We have never lost here. Makati [is] Binay territory.”
The Binay patriarch made the statement after he cast his vote at San Antonio Community Complex. With him were his wife Elenita, Nancy and their son Junjun.
The former vice president, as well as his wife and son, all previously served as Makati City mayor, while the post is currently held by another daughter, Abby, who is running for senator. The Binay family has been at the helm of the country’s premiere business district since 1986.
Given the possibility of her continuing the family’s dominance in Makati’s politics, Nancy said in a press briefing that they serve at the pleasure of voters.
Up to voters
“At the end of the day, we get elected. Our fate does not depend on us, it depends on the voters, and for as long as their support [is there], especially in Makati, we will continue serving,” she told reporters.
The mayoral race, however, has renewed the rift within the family as Nancy revealed that she has yet to reconcile with her sister, Abby, over personal matters that caused them to stop talking to each other.
While the senator did not go into details, one of the obvious causes may be the fact that her main rival for the city’s mayoral seat is Abby’s handpicked successor and husband, incumbent Makati Rep. Luis Campos.
“Hopefully, at the end of the day, after today, blood relations will still prevail,” Nancy said. “Eventually, at some point in our lives, we will reconcile.”
She also reiterated that she does not view her sister as her opponent since “there is no Abby Binay on the ballot.”
“For me, there is no problem. [I’m] more than willing to talk to her. Especially with the transition [if I win as mayor of Makati]. There needs to be proper turnover. Maybe that will be the opportunity for us to talk,” she added.
No hard feelings
As for Abby who voted at Nemesio Yabut Elementary School together with her husband, she said she does not harbor a grudge against her father for endorsing Nancy instead of Campos.
“I’m okay with my [dad],” she told reporters. “I have no hard feelings toward my dad.”
“This is an election. This is not about our personal issues. What should be talked about are the platforms, what are the plans and what has been done for the people to vote for us. It’s becoming a ‘teleserye’ about our personal lives, which isn’t really what it’s supposed to be,” Abby added.
She also shared that a committee tasked to handle the transition between her and the new Makati mayor was created two months ago. “We always do that regardless of who will win as mayor,” Abby said.
