After ‘Paquito Diaz’, comes Vice President ‘Jojomor’ Binay

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City – After “Paquito Diaz”, comes Vice President “Jojomor”, wait “Jejomor” Binay.

And like the first incident, the mix-up in Binay’s name was committed by another man in uniform.

At the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Homecoming here Saturday, retired Lieutenant General Edgardo Batenga, was tasked to introduce the guest of honor and speaker.

In his introduction, Batenga addressed the Vice President first as “Jojomor” Binay and then with “Jejomor” Binay.

Batenga nonetheless continued with his introduction of the “twice-wronged” Binay to the amusement of his audience.

Binay took his oath as an honorary member of the PMA Class of 1988, the first to take oath in public.

“As far as I know, this is the only occasion where we are inducting someone that coincides with the alumni homecoming. It’s because there is an occasion that we are celebrating,” PMA spokesman Captain Lynette Flores told reporters in mixed English and Filipino.

The PMA “Maringal” Class of 1988 is the host class for this year’s alumni homecoming.

“Pag sa honorary members kasi namin, lalo yung coming from the outside, gusto namin sa classmates namin, lalo yung those coming from the outside, ay yung they can cope with all of the activities of the supporting class, they should promote camaraderie, brotherhood, fraternal relationship within the members,” Senior Superintendent Ferdinand Daway, the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office Chief and PMA Class ’88 President, told reporters on why they chose Binay as a member.

But Daway also brushed off speculations that the oath taking was election-related.

He added that in their constitutional bylaws, the PMA Alumni Association Incorporated (PMAAAI) is allowed to adopt honorary members, paternal members and associate members.

Daway also said that it took a while before an honorary member could take an oath.

In the case of Binay, a Marine reservist, he was adopted by the class years back.

In his speech at the program, Binay pledged to continue housing programs for the military.

“Ang programang pabahay para sa ating mga kawal ay bahagi lamang ng pagsisikap ng inyong pamahalaan na pagandahin ang inyong buhay bilang pagkilala sa inyong hindi matatawarang ambag sa paghubog ng isang bagong Pilipinas,” he said.

After the program, Binay said in an ambush interview with reporters that he was already used to hearing his name pronounced wrongly.

He said that his name Jejomar stood for “Jesus,” “Joseph,” “Mary,” and “St. Martin.”

In January during turnover ceremonies for the new chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, then outgoing military chief Jesse Dellosa introduced Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. as Paquito Diaz but corrected himself immediately, having realized the faux pas.