‘Barangay Binay’ backs VP’s presidential bid

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay will file his certificate of candidacy for president on Monday, the first day of filing of COCs for the 2016 elections.

Binay, who will be accompanied by his family and supporters, will attend Mass at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila at 6:45 a.m. before heading to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at 8 a.m.

In his speech at the launching of United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) at the Cebu Coliseum yesterday, the Vice President announced his tandem with Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan for the polls.

“It grows stronger, and fiercer, it’s not just UNA, it’s also Bin-Go,” Binay said in Filipino in vote-rich Cebu, referring to his team up with Honasan.

A tarpaulin was also placed onstage, indicating Honasan’s vice-presidential run, but the senator was a no-show.

A source from the Binay camp said Honasan informed the camp of the Vice President that he could not attend UNA’s event in Cebu “due to prior commitment.”

The source told The STAR that the tarpaulins came from the office of Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama, who is supporting the vice presidential bid of Honasan.

In the absence of Honasan, the source said several packs of Bingo, a brand of cookies, were distributed to attendees at the UNA launch.

In his speech, Binay slammed anew the administration for failing to address the poverty incidence in the country. He said the poverty rate in Eastern Visayas, for instance, has hit 55 percent in 2014 from 45 percent in 2012.

“After five years, many, especially in the Visayas, were sunk in poverty under the present administration,” he said.

Meanwhile, a group calling itself “Barangay Binay” expressed yesterday their support for Binay’s presidential bid.

The group is composed of former leaders from the Katipunan ng mga Samahan ng Manggagawa (KASAMA), Kabataang Makabayan (KM), Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan (SDK) and other pro-democracy associations under the umbrella of the Movement for Democratic Philippines (MDP), which pushed the people’s struggle in that turbulent period of the Marcos dictatorship.

“There is no stopping the Binay surge to victory. The Vice President is the historically mandated heir to the presidency of the republic,” Mauro Gia Samonte, Barangay Binay’s national spokesman, said in a statement released by the Binay-led UNA.

Samonte claimed that there were groups that will likely use their influence to prevent Binay from winning the presidency.

Last month, Binay said he is ready to lead a “people power” revolt if cheated next year. He had said there are rumors that there would be cheating via precinct count optical scan machines in next year’s elections.

The group believes that a Binay presidency could bring economic development in the country like what he has done in Makati, where he served as mayor for 21 years.