Enrile endorses Binay presidential aspiration

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Saturday openly threw his support behind Vice President Jejomar Binay for the 2016 presidential election.

In an impassioned 10-minute speech at the Iloilo provincial and city convention of the United Nationalist Alliance , Enrile said Binay would bring genuine change to the country.

“I have been in politics for almost 50 years and I have seen all kinds of leaders from (President Manuel) Quezon until now. I am sure that if (Binay) will lead the Philippines, the country will develop and become respectable in Asia and the whole world,” Enrile  said.

Enrile, 89, chair emeritus of UNA, stressed that next year’s mid-term elections are also a prelude to the presidential election in 2016.

“These two elections cannot be separated. One is a curtainraiser for the next election in 2016. That’s why the one who is leading the UNA is (Binay) because he will be the standard-bearer in 2016 and he will be the President,” Enrile said, drawing cheers and applause from around 1,000 candidates and new members of UNA.

He said UNA hoped to bring “genuine change” that has long been denied the Filipino people.

UNA is a coalition of the PDP-Laban of Binay and the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino of deposed president Joseph Estrada.

At times quoting from “Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell)” of Dr. Jose Rizal, Enrile said genuine change continued to be a dream and cry for Filipinos because those who wield power do not have the capacity, will and determination to change the political system.

“We dreamt of change in the (1986 People Power Revolution). This was also the aim of martial law and of Marcos when I joined him in 1965 so that this country will be great again,” said Enrile, Marcos’ defense minister and administrator of martial law.

Binay expressed confidence that UNA candidates will win in the elections.

“I am the example,” he said, referring to his victory in 2010 over then front-runner Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, the running mate of President Aquino in the LP.

Binay said he started his candidacy with a popularity survey rating of 2 percent against the 52 percent rating of his rival. But he said this eventually changed to a 2.5 percent edge in his favor two weeks before the elections.

The vice president also took a swipe at senatorial candidates of the ruling Liberal Party and its allies.

“Our candidates know how to pay a debt of gratitude unlike a candidate on other side. He is even disrespectful to his elders. We have no back channeling here,” Binay said, clearly referring to Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and his public spat with Enrile over the younger senator’s backdoor diplomatic negotiations with China.

Enrile took a potshot at Trillanes.

“I don’t mind him anymore. He will not win and he should not be allowed to return to the Senate,” Enrile told reporters.

Binay and Enrile were joined by UNA’s senatorial candidates, including Enrile’ son Jackie, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and his brother JV Ejercito, and former senator Richard “Dick” Gordon.

Binay swore in the new UNA members and proclaimed the party’s candidates in the city and province of Iloilo.