Binay ready for outcome of Palace dinner

VICE President Jejomar Binay is bracing for the outcome of President Benigno Aquino III’s dinner with his presumed successor Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and two other contenders, Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

In a text message on Wednesday, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) President Toby Tiangco said Binay is ready to face the administration’s team-up.

“In politics you cannot choose your opponent. So we are ready to face anyone,” Tiangco said.

He added that whoever Aquino picks as his presidential bet, Binay is ready to show his achievements and compare these to the other contenders.

“We are ready to face anyone. And we are willing to compare achievements with any of the candidates, especially pro-poor programs and the number of poor people that benefited from these programs,” Tiangco said.

The Inquirer reported that despite his busy schedule, President Aquino will host a casual dinner with the three on Wednesday night.

Roxas himself confirmed the dinner with Aquino, Poe and Escudero on Wednesday night.

The dinner is supposed to tackle the candidates for president and vice president of the LP-led administration coalition. Aquino is expected to talk to Poe, who led the presidential surveys in the latest polls, and Escudero to maintain the administration alliance come 2016.

Aquino is also expected to finally decide if it would be a Mar-Poe tandem, Poe-Mar, or Mar-Chiz in the 2016 elections.

Binay has expressed his intention to run for president amid allegations of corruption and rigged bidding in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II and the Makati Science High School building when he was mayor.