Estrada: Binay still UNA’s standard bearer

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada on Monday said Vice President Jejomar Binay stays as the United Nationalist Alliance standard bearer in the 2016 elections despite numerous allegations of corruption against the opposition’s bet coupled with his sliding poll survey ratings.

Estrada said he is confident that Binay will be able to overcome the controversies confronting him.

“Sa ngayon sya pa rin… wala pa kaming nakikitang iba. Sa administrasyon wala pa rin kaming nakikitang iba so tabla-tabla lang,” Estrada said in a press conference at the City Hall Monday.

“I pray he will overcome this demolition job against him. The Senate investigation is in aid of demolition so hopefully up to now he is still on top,” he added.

Binay has been slapped with a criminal complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman together with his son, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay, in connection with the alleged overpriced construction of the Makati parking building.

Binay was also accused of owning a 350-hectare farm in Rosario, Batangas as well as receiving a 13-percent kickback from every infrastructure project in Makati when he was still its mayor.

Recently, he suffered a big drop in his performance and trust ratings though he remained as the man to beat in the 2016 elections.