Binay insists Estrada still supports him

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines–He remains the presidential candidate of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada in 2016, Vice President Jejomar Binay insisted Tuesday amid speculations that Estrada might support Sen. Grace Poe, whose survey ratings have been steadily rising in recent months.

Speculations about Estrada’s presidential candidate surged when Inquirer columnist Neal Cruz wrote in his Dec. 15 column that the former President had categorically stated that he would ditch Binay, his running mate in the 2010 elections, in favor of Poe should she run for the top post in 2016.

Cruz quoted Estrada as saying that supporting the senator was his way of repaying her father, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ), his best friend to whom he owed a lot.

But Binay told reporters otherwise: “President Erap announced that I am his candidate for President,” he said at the launch of Pag-Ibig’s Balik Savings 65 program at the Makati Sports Club Tuesday. He added that news report on the Internet quoted Estrada saying as much.

Binay also cited Poe’s repeated avowals that she was not eyeing the presidency, saying she still had much to learn about public office.

Poe on Monday said she was not ready to face Binay who continues to top voter preference surveys although his ratings have dropped, while Poe’s numbers have improved.

“So we are just speculating about her candidacy in the next election,” Binay said.

Asked on the possibility of Poe becoming his running mate in 2016, Binay said: “Wow, I supposed that’s the most ideal situation, especially for us in the group of FPJ, friends of FPJ.”

The Vice President said he remained to be Estrada’s man for 2016, adding that only two months ago the former President said as much in Camarines Sur province when they attended the book launch of former Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella.

Asked how important Estrada’s endorsement of his presidential bid was, Binay said: “For a candidate, every vote is important.”

Estrada had denied being serious in his remarks to the Inquirer columnist about supporting Poe. But in the 2010 elections, cameras captured the then presidential contender showing his ballot with the slot for the vice president left blank.

Sources said Estrada had wanted to show his displeasure over reports that his running mate, then Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, had campaigned only for himself and had told his fellow city mayors that he understood their commitment to another presidential candidate.