MANILA, Philippines – Makati City mayoralty candidates Junjun Binay and his sister, incumbent mayor Abby Binay should have respected the church instead of creating a scene and confronting each other during a pre-election forum at the San Ildefonso Parish church on Saturday, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said Monday.
PPCRV Vice Chairman Johnny Cardenas said that prior to the forum itself, the Makati City mayoral candidates were asked to ditch tirades or scathing remarks out of respect for the church.
Cardenas said the Binay siblings should have focused on their platforms instead of getting into an argument.
SIBLING RIVALRY Despite being seated together during an election forum held on Saturday, siblings Abby and Junjun Binay, who are both running for Makati mayor, ignored each other until they got into a heated argument. PHOTO BY DEXTER CABALZA
“Bago ginagawa yan, brine-brief yung candidate na bawal diyan magtirahan habang ginagawa yung forum. walang personalan kasi ang interest ng mananampalataya ay makilala lahat sila, marinig yung ano yung kanilang plataporma, at ang pinaka magandang marinig nila kung paano nila isasagawa yung kanilang pangako, yung mga platform nila,” Cardenas said in an interview over dzMM.
“Kaya lang, itong nakaraan nagkainitan yung magkapatid na hindi naman dapat, kasi alam mo naman inaasahan natin na kapag nasa loob ng simbahan, igagalang yan, at ang medyo weirdo pa dito ay magkapatid yan,” he added.
The Binay siblings, seated beside each other, joined other Makati City mayoral candidates in the pre-election forum.
After the incumbent mayor delivered her closing address, she and her brother, a former Makati City mayor, figured in a verbal tussle.
Their father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay and supporters of both candidates intervened to ease tension inside the packed church. /gsg
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