Not welcomed by Roxas allies, Binay gets Capiz backing

ROXAS CITY—Vice President Jejomar Binay should wonder no more why this city is named Roxas.

That this is turf of his bitter rival, defeated candidate for vice president Manuel Araneta Roxas II, became clear as Binay stepped out into the streets.

No welcome streamers announcing the Vice President’s arrival had been allowed by the city mayor, a close ally of the now Transportation Secretary Roxas.

But the kind of reception that could matter more to Binay was the company of at least 500 supporters who walked with him on this city’s streets as if to proclaim that the city and province of Capiz were not owned by Roxas.

Three of the city’s village chiefs were with the Vice President in a visit that this city’s mayor said didn’t deserve a red carpet welcome from the city government because it was not related to the Vice President’s official function.

Throughout his visit in Capiz, home province of Roxas, Binay was received not as the dark horse that spoiled a Capiz native’s bid for higher office but as a well-liked official of the Aquino administration.

Streamers and posters were barred from being placed anywhere in the city, prompting supporters to carry these.

T-shirts worn by his supporters delivered the message just as loudly, written with the campaign slogans “Binay para sa 2016” and “Capiz ay para kay Binay.”

In a statement issued by his office, Binay said he felt slighted by the city government’s refusal to allow welcome streamers to be put up for him, but that he had forgiven the city mayor, Angel Alan Celino, for it.

Celino, a member of Roxas’ Liberal Party, had said he didn’t allow welcome streamers to be put up for Binay because his advance party didn’t apply for a permit to put these up and didn’t pay fees to be allowed to do so.

Binay’s office also chided Celino for allegedly threatening stall owners at the Roxas City Public Market not to entertain Binay or lose their stalls. Celino, however, described reports that he threatened the stall owners as mere rumors.

At a dialogue with Capiz mayors on Thursday, Binay turned over two checks worth P500,000 each to Mayors Lilia Castro of Dumalag and Roger Flores of Cuartero for senior citizens’ projects in their towns.

Other mayors at the dialogue were Jose Alba of Mambusao, Ethel Jinon of Jamindan, Rosemarie Gardose of Tapaz, Lesie Warren Benjamin of Dumarao, Joselito Escutin of Dao, Katherine Belo of Panitan, and Dante Bermejo of Panay.  Also at the dialogue were former Roxas City Mayor Vicente Bermejo and former Mayor Noel Yap of Ivisan.