Peña, Binay cast votes in Makati

MANILA, Philippines - Makati Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña and his rival Makati 2nd District Rep. Mar-Len Abigail “Abby” Binay-Campos on Monday cast their votes in the city.

“Ang feeling ko po, very positive. It is the last day. Nagyon ang judgment day. Syempre, we will be hoping for the best. And I want to win for Makati. I’m keeping my fingers crossed and praying very hard. For me, it is for Makati,” said Peña, standard-bearer of the administration Liberal Party shortly after casting his vote at precinct 270 at the covered court of Barangay Valenzuela.

Peña arrived at the covered court at about 12 noon wearing a green shirt.

Earlier, Vice President Jejomar Binay complained about the presence of Peña’s supporters inside the voting precincts of the San Antonio National High School where he and his son Junjun cast their votes. The vice president said Peña’s supporters were wearing green shirts.

Peña said he sees nothing wrong with his supporters wearing green shirts. He said that as a member of the Liberal Party, his color should be yellow being a member of the Liberal Party.

“Well it’s the first time na nakita ko na siya (vice president) na mismo ang nagrereklamo. Kung maraming naka-green maybe kasi 'yun ang uso ngayon na isuot. Kasi sa totoo lang, dapat maraming naka-yellow, kasi 'yun ang color ko. Nagkataon lang na green is my lucky color. Swerte ako sa green," he said.

Peña added that elections in the city have been smooth with only a few remote problems.

“Ang election ngayon ay smooth. May ilang remote na problema. But basically sa mga tao namin, wala kayong makikita na kami ang magsisimula. Very vigilant ang lahat since the start,” he said.

Peña also denied that his camp is engaged in vote-buying.

“Naririnig ko lang din 'yan. Pero definitely hindi ito galing sa amin kasi wala naman tayong pang-vote buying.

Meanwhile, Binay-Campos said she will accept it if she does not get elected as the city’s next mayor.

“I'm ready to accept the results, and I always say na even if I lose, there's always life after politics, di ba? Kung tutuusin naman, as I always say I'm a last minute candidate, I had other plans, di ba? 'Pag iba naman ang naging desisyon ng tao, 'pag sinabi nilang mas gusto nilang maging mayor ako, then I will accept,” she told reporters shortly after casting her vote at precinct 361 of the San Jose Elementary School in Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo.

The vice president's daughter said she had received several complaints about Monday's elections. 

The complaints she said ranged from defective vote-counting machines and the presence of Peña’s supporters wearing green shirts inside the polling precincts.

"Oo kasi, actually, historically ganyan talaga 'yung kalaban namin, kahit yung 2007, 'yung kalaban namin. Ganun din ang ginagawa. Nakacolor coded, pero mas worst yata ngayon kasi may initial pa niya, tapos may "Kid." Meron pang insignia niya na kidlat. So kung hindi pa kampanya 'yon, eh ewan ko na lang kasi obvious naman di ba na 'yun 'yung simbolo ng team nila, they could have just worn green, di naman kami pwedeng magreklamo, di ba?” she said.

Binay-Campos said they will seek legal remedies if they feel the need to contest the results.

"Parte 'yun sa pwedeng gawin ng isang kandidato,” she added.