POWER HOUSE Vice President Jejomar Binay and two of his children, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay and senatorial candidate Nancy Binay, show their ink-stained fingers after casting their votes in Monday’s midterm elections at San Antonio High School in Makati City. ARNOLD ALMACEN
MANILA, Philippines—Vice President Jejomar Binay walked out of the polling center looking satisfied.
Binay told reporters that he was confident his three children would win their races in Monday’s local and congressional elections.
He also expressed confidence that the results of the balloting would favor the other candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), which he jointly leads with former President Joseph Estrada and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
Binay and members of his family voted around 10 a.m. at San Antonio National High school, within walking distance from their home in Makati City.
Binay and his children Ma. Lourdes (Nancy), Jejomar Erwin (Junjun) and Maria Angeline (Abby) wore orange, UNA’s official color.
They were accompanied by the Vice President’s wife, also formerly Makati Mayor Elenita Binay.
Junjun Binay ran for a second term as mayor of Makati, while his sister Nancy, a newcomer, ran for a seat in the Senate.
Another daughter of Binay, Abigail, a reelectionist Makati representative, voted in Makati’s second district.
“We are very confident we will win, especially in the local level,” vice President Binay said.
Good campaign
The Vice President said he was also satisfied with how the UNA campaign went.
“We campaigned well. We were united and we will be united in winning this election,” he said.
His son Junjun chose to be cautious when asked about his electoral expectations.
“Let us wait and see until the votes are counted,” Junjun said.
But he described the campaign of his rival as weak. “If you would base it on surveys, we are so far ahead of our rivals,” the mayor said.
Needing a miracle
His lone challenger, lawyer Renato Bondal, said he and his team “have won the hearts and minds of the Makati voters,” but admitted that only a miracle could make him win.
Without fanfare, Bondal went to his polling precinct at the Palanan gym in Barangay (village) Palanan at around 7 a.m., joining the line and patiently waiting for his turn.
“I hope a miracle happens,” Bondal said in an interview after he cast his vote.—With a report from Marc Joseph Alejo