No red carpet welcome for Binay in Roxas turf

ROXAS CITY—Supporters of Vice President Jejomar Binay were not allowed to put up welcome streamers in this city for failing to secure a permit to do so.

Binay will be in Capiz on June 8 for a three-day visit to several provinces on Panay Island.

In an interview on Tuesday, Leodegario Labao Jr. said he went to the office of Roxas City Mayor Angel Alan Celino last week to seek permission to put up welcome streamers for Binay. Labao is a local contractor who is helping prepare for Binay’s visit in Capiz, home province of Binay’s bitter rival Transportation Secretary Manuel Araneta Roxas III.

According to Labao, Celino, who belongs to the Liberal Party, refused to allow welcome streamers to be put up since Binay’s purpose in his trip to Capiz was not related to his function as vice president but to form his local political machinery.

No application

However, the mayor, in a separate interview, said he had not seen an application for a permit to put up the streamers.

Celino, a close ally of Roxas, said a 2010 city ordinance required the payment of fees for sign boards, billboards or advertisements that would be put up in public places in the city.

The mayor, who confirmed he met with Labao, said he informed Labao to apply for a permit in compliance with the ordinance.

Binay, who will meet with his Capiz supporters, will be accompanied by doctors, nurses and dentists for a medical-dental mission in Dao and Mambusao towns in Capiz.

Capiz is known as political turf of Roxas, who lost to Binay in the vice presidential race in 2010 and has a pending case at the Supreme Court against Binay’s win.

Machinery

Binay had announced his intention to run for president in the 2016 elections and has been doing the rounds of the provinces in an apparent bid to build a machinery for his presidential campaign.

The vice president is scheduled to meet officials of Mambusao town, led by Mayor Jose Alba, and nongovernment organizations and groups of senior citizens. He is also scheduled to meet with officials of Dao town, led by Mayor Joselito Escutin.

Binay is also scheduled to inaugurate the newly completed Office of the Senior Citizens Association Center in Dao before proceeding to the component city of Passi in Iloilo province.

On his return to Capiz, the vice president is also expected to meet with other mayors of towns in Capiz and leaders of the PDP-Laban.

After Capiz, Binay is expected to visit Aklan province to meet with local leaders in the towns of Banga, Kalibo, Nabas, New Washington and Numancia before he proceeds to Antique province.

The vice president will administer the oath-taking of new PDP-Laban members in San Jose, Antique.

Binay’s victory against Roxas is considered to be one of the biggest political upsets in the country’s history. Roxas was believed to be a front-runner in the vice presidential race until Binay emerged as the victor.