Mayor Abby Binay urges Junjun to campaign on platform

Reelectionist Mayor Abby Binay is welcomed by a young resident during one of her campaign sorties. PHOTO FROM MAYOR ABBY BINAY CAMP

MANILA, Philippines – Makati Mayor Abby Binay is urging her brother, Junjun, and his supporters to end their negative campaigning and instead present their track record and programs for the city and its residents.

In a statement issued Saturday after a confrontation between the siblings during a Church-sponsored forum, Mayor Abby bemoaned the “belligerent” attitude displayed by her brother towards her.  The forum was organized by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting at the San Ildefonso Parish Church.

“After Junjun tantrums in Church, we call for campaign based on platform,” the mayor said.

“I find it most unfortunate that my brother said hurtful things to me and acted in such a manner inside a Church and in the presence of my father and our Makatizens,” she lamented.

“May masasakit na sinabi sa akin ang kapatid ko noong kami ay magkatabi sa forum. Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling ang galit niya,” Mayor Abby said.

Mayor Abby said she was praying that her brother would find peace of mind, adding she would never get tired of talking about her performance as mayor and her plans for the city and the Makatizens.

“With two weeks left before the election, I wish that my brother and his supporters will do the same. Itigil na sana nila ang paninira at kasinungalingan,” she said.

Mayor Abby issued the statement after her brother confronted her during the forum.

The mayor had just finished her turn presenting her platform of governance when the former mayor, who was seated beside her, forcefully talked to her.

Makati police chief Rogelio Simon immediately approached the siblings to intervene, followed by Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo and former Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Junjun then stood up and suddenly genuflected and bowed in the direction of Mayor Abby.

A video of Junjun seemingly losing his cool has since gone viral on Facebook.

In an Open Letter to Makatizens posted on her personal Facebook account Sunday, Mayor Abby expressed her dismay over the incident and apologized to the residents of Makati.

“Kung may isang taong lubos na nalulungkot sa nangyari kagabi, ako po yon,” she said.

“Araw-araw nila akong sinisiraan. Pinagbibintangan ng walang basehan. Ginagawang katatawanan. Pero ni minsan ay hindi ako sumagot dahil ayon na rin sa Tatay ko, hindi sila dapat patulan,” she added.

“Last night was no different. Kahit nasa loob ng simbahan, madami silang pitik, pasaring at kasinungalingan. Kaya sinabi ko sa entablado, tama na ang paninira. Performance ang dapat pag usapan.

“Nakita ninyo kung ano ang naging reaksyon ng nakakabata kong kapatid. Nauwi kami sa isang sagutan dahil nagwawala na siya. Isang bagay na hindi ko maintindihan. Bakit?

“Bilang Mayor, humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa Makatizens. The issue of this campaign is performance. Clean, honest and corruption-free performance.

“Kayo muna, bago ang kahit sino. Kayo muna, higit sa anumang issue. Performance, hindi personalan.”

Mayor Abby also apologized to her father.

“Dad, pasensya na. Sabi ko sa yo kaya ko magtiis. Pinangako ko sa’yo hindi ako magsasalita kahit gaano pa kasakit ang kasinungalingang ibinabato nila. Pero tao lang ako. Sa gitna ng isang pagwawala, dapat din akong sumagot at ipagtanggol ang sarili ko. Kasi sobra na, sobrang sakit na.

“Sa mga taong patuloy ang paniniwala at pananalig sa akin, maraming salamat po. Kayo, kasama ng aking pamilya, ang nagbibigay lakas sa akin.

“The fight for Makati’s progressive future continues. I will never, ever give up,” she said.

In her speech prior to the incident, Mayor Abby underscored her platform of good governance, citing her administration’s strong campaign against so-called 15-30 and ghost employees, commissioners, fixers, palakasan and padrino system inside City Hall.

She also reiterated her commitment to enhance programs for the youth especially on education focusing on employability, and to implement new programs responding to prevailing needs of Makatizens, including a hospice care program, additional health centers, and a public columbarium.

She concluded by appealing to her fellow candidates to stop the negative campaign against her that resorted to outright lies and character assassination.

“Sa natititirang panahon ngayong kampanya, ako po ay nakikiusap sa aking mga kapwa kandidato, tigilan na ang pagkakalat ng kasinungalingan. Tigilan na ang pagyuyurak sa aking pagkatao, sa pagkatao ng aking asawa. Hindi kayo mananalo sa pagsisira ninyo sa akin dahil ang tatayuan ko ay ang nagawa ko sa inyo at ang gusto ko pang gawin. Maraming salamat po,” the mayor said. /cbb