Binays stealing among themselves?

A front-page photo in the Inquirer’s Saturday issue showed Vice President Jojo Binay with leaders of the Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe in Cotabato province.

The tribe’s 14,000 members recognized him as one of their leaders.

They apparently don’t read the newspapers or watch the news on TV. Otherwise, they would not touch him even with a 10-foot pole.

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Since the majority of voters don’t bother to keep abreast of issues that could affect their lives, they will most probably vote for Binay in the 2016 presidential elections.

They belong to the type who elect only moneyed candidates, and Binay has billions of pesos to give away.

Don’t ask me where the money will be coming from.

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At the moment, there’s no strong contender against Binay.

He still is on top of surveys of possible presidential candidates, despite allegations about the grossly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II, the reported kickbacks he and his family received from contractors, and the 350-hectare farm in Batangas province which the Binays allegedly own.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas is a weak candidate compared to Binay because he doesn’t connect with the common people.

The only candidate who can give Binay a run for his money is Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte who is loved by the common tao like the Makati mayor.

But then, Duterte is not inclined to run for president, preferring to stay in his turf.

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Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado told the Inquirer that the huge amounts of bribe money from contractors were delivered to the house of the Binays on Caong Street, Barangay San Antonio, when the Vice President was still Makati mayor.

The amounts were placed in duffel bags and received by one of then Mayor Jojo Binay’s children.

The bags were later provided with locks, the combination of which was known only to Jojo Binay and his son, Junjun, the current mayor.

Locks were placed, Mercado said, after it was found out that one of the daughters of the Vice President was taking money from the bags.

Mercado didn’t say who between the Binay daughters was the snitch—Senator Nancy or Makati Representative Abigail.

Oh my God, if true, the Binays not only stole from the people, they even stole among themselves!

That is, if you believe Mercado’s tale.

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The best argument that Vice President Binay should appear before the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee was propounded by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

Santiago, a former regional trial court judge, said Mercado’s testimony was “very, very strong” since he was also incriminating himself in accusing his former boss, Binay, of receiving kickbacks.

If Binay does not honor the Senate invitation, he would lose a “golden opportunity to clear himself,” the feisty senator said.

Binay’s continued refusal to appear before the Senate, Santiago said, could affect his chances in the 2016 presidential election.

The Senate hearing, she said, has become a “trial before public opinion.”