Binay: I have no running mate yet

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Just three months before the filing of certificates of candidacy in October, Vice President Jejomar Binay still has difficulty finding a running mate for 2016.

“Wala pa ho e (None yet),” Binay said when asked in an interview during the76th anniversary celebration of DZRH Wednesday if he has already found a running mate.

“Alam n’yo po, si [former Labor] Secretary [Buenvenido] Laguesma, matagal ko nang hinihimok ‘yan na maging miyembro ng ‘CSB,’” he said in jest. CSB, he said, stands for “Certified Sipsip  kay Binay.”

(You know, I’ve long been asking Secretary Laguesma to join the ‘CSB.’)

“Pero wala pa. Wala pa po. Talagang mahirap pong makahanap, meron po akong mga nilapitan e talagang… dahil hindi sanay sa larangan ng pulitika,” the Vice President said.

(But there’s no one yet.  It’s really hard to find [a running mate]. I’ve already approached some people but they are not used to politics.)

READ: No one wants to run with Binay

Binay expressed hope though that he would eventually find his vice president, saying the selection process of the United Nationalist’ Alliance’s  search committee is ongoing.

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

He noted that even the bank accounts of his friends had been frozen simply because they are associated with him.

“But anyway, ang pagpili po ng aking pangalawang pangulo ay nasa proseso pa ng aming search committee. Basta’t hamo at magkakaroon po ako ng vice president,” Binay said.

(But anyway, the selection process for my vice president is being done by our search committee.  But let me assure you, I will have a vice president.) IDL