Search for Binay’s VP still on; Arroyo gives silent order of support, says ally

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

PAGBILAO, Quezon, Philippines – The hunt for the elusive running mate of Vice President Jejomar Binay in 2016 election is still on.

Binay admitted that the committee that was formed by the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) to search for his running mate has not found the party’s vice presidential candidate.

“None yet,” Binay told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in an interview here on Saturday at the sidelines of his market visit in this bucolic town, 141 kilometers south of Manila.

On Friday, ousted President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said he would not be the runningmate of Binay in the 2016 presidential election as he preferred to seek reelection.

Sen. Grace Poe and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte earlier said they too were not inclined to become Binay’s runningmates.

Binay, who arrived here in the company of former Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, a close ally of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and now a staunch Binay supporter, confirmed Binay’s statement.

However, Suarez disclosed that in his talk with Binay, who spent Friday and Saturday nights at the seaside Suarez mansion in Unisan town, several possible runningmates have come up.

“Several names were mentioned, their options and conditions. All of the issues were discussed. But we need to pick one who will bring in votes, not somebody has to be carried along (by Binay), ” Suarez told the Inquirer partly in Pilipino.

Suarez, former minority leader in the 15th Congress, said their discussion lasted shortly before midnight on Friday.

The Suarez political clan in Quezon have promised to campaign for Binay in 2016. Suarez’ wife, Aleta, has replaced him as the representative of the province’s third congressional district; while the couple’s son, David, is the governor.

Suarez described the reception of the people during Binay’s past visits to more than 20 towns in the province as “inspiring.”

“If the presidential election will be held in the coming days, VP Binay will get at least 80 percent of the votes in Quezon,” he said.

Suarez, a Lakas-CMD member, also disclosed that Ms Macapagal-Arroyo has given a tacit order for Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) members to support Binay’s presidential candidacy in 2016.

“GMA has no official order but she already gave a marching order to more than 1,000 members of Lakas-CMD to meet and provide supports to VP Binay whenever he visits their respective areas,” Suarez said.

Suarez stressed, however, that a formal alliance between Lakas-CMD and Binay’s party, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) has not been forged.

Suarez added that only Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, as president of Lakas-CMD, could make an official announcement, he added.

Suarez earlier indicated that Arroyo, now a Pampanga lawmaker, might end up backing the candidacy of Binay. Arroyo, detained at Veterans Memorial Medical Center on plunder charges, was grateful to Binay for his call to the Aquino administration to place her under house arrest, Suarez said.

Arroyo is suffering from a degenerative bone disease.

“That gratefulness might turn into a political decision,” Suarez said. “It’s not just her but the whole political machinery of Lakas will support the Vice President.”

Romualdez had also indicated in media interviews that Lakas-CMD might ally itself with Binay’s political party in the 2016 presidential election. SFM

RELATED VIDEOS