Binay daughter to continue family’s ‘dynasty of service’

Vice President Jejomar Binay accompanied her eldest daughter Nancy Binay when she filed her certificate of candidacy at the Comelec office Friday. MATIKAS SANTOS/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – Nancy Binay, daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, filed her certificate of candidacy at the  Commission on Elections (Comelec) main office in Intramuros, Manila Friday and vowed to continue her famiy’s “dynasty of service”.

“I will strive to be worthy of the Binay name and legacy,” said Nancy who arrived at the Comelec at 4:15 p.m., minutes before closing time.

She said that if she would be elected, she would pursue his father’s housing reform agenda, as well as push for laws for the protection of children.

When pressed by reporters about the issue that their family was building a political dynasty, she said “as what my brother said, we are a dynasty of service.”

“At the end of the day, we do not appoint ourselves, we are subjected to the process. Let the voters decide,” she added.

Nancy was named as the United Nationalist Alliance’s (UNA) 12th senatorial candidate on Thursday. She served as the replacement of Joey de Venecia, who withdrew his candidacy at the last minute, citing business reasons.

She was accompanied by her father Binay, her mother Elenita Binay, Valenzuela Representative Sherwin Gatchalian, UNA spokesperson JV Bautista, UNA secretary general Toby Tiangco, and other UNA senatorial candidates Ernesto Maceda and Jack Ponce Enrile.

In a statement Friday, Nancy noted that her decision to run was largely influenced by the support she received from ordinary citizens, non-government organizations, government employees, and elected local officials.

She also cited her good ratings in surveys, which she said “underscores the fact that our family name has become synonymous with good public service.”

She said that she was surprised that she was actually faring high in the surveys and that she saw it as an opportunity to serve.

With Nancy Binay entering the UNA coalition, the three UNA leaders Vice President Binay, former President Joseph Estrada, and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile would have their children running for the 2013 senatorial polls.

Asked to react about this, the Vice President said “eh ano namang problema doon?”

He said that would not be a problem as long as the elections would be a clean and honest one and that if the candidates were clarified.

When asked about her daughter’s qualification’s as a Senator, the Vice President said that her experience of giving personal assistance to her parents’ advocacies would help her.

UNA is the new coalition formed between Binay’s PDP-Laban and Erap Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.