Binay, Marcos 93 percent close to having decision—VP

Amid speculations on his running mate for the 2016 elections, Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday said he and Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. were already nearing a decision.

“Let us just not say tandem. But we are very close to having a decision already. Last time I was telling a friend sa media, 91.5 [percent possibility]. As of last night, it’s 93,” Binay said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

Asked what factors constituted the remaining seven percent, Binay said it would be best to wait for Marcos’ decision, adding that they will meet “very soon.”

“Malalaman natin ang talagang desisyon ni Senator Marcos… Within the framework of ‘right away.’ Tomorrow, or today… or anytime next week, basta’t right away, as soon as possible,” he said.

“Basta umabot na sa kanyang kaalaman na we have agreed to take him in as our candidate for vice president. That is insofar as we’re concerned,” he added.

READ: Binay-Marcos a done deal? Let’s wait for Bongbong’s announcement, Binay says | Binay-Marcos in 2016? Bongbong says why not? | Binay-Marcos: Perfect combination, says UNA official

Binay, a human rights lawyer-activist during the dictatorship of the senator’s namesake and father, is eyeing Marcos to be his running mate in 2016.

While admitting that he will be facing a lot of criticisms from Marcos loyalists and his confederates during the Martial Law, Binay said it was time to move on from the issue.

“In fact I’ve been telling people already, from the time we agreed that I become the Vice President… I’ve been telling my friends that, one, we have to move on. Second, this is the son. This is not the father,” he said.

READ: Binay sings new tune on Marcos

Binay was also a member of the Movement of Attorneys for Brotherhood, Integrity and Nationalism (Mabini), which campaigned for the ouster of then President Marcos’ dictator rule.

Aside from Marcos, Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance was also reportedly considering Sen. Gringo Honasan and another unnamed choice, but Honasan already ruled the possibility of a tandem with the opposition leader. Yuji Vincent Gonzales

READ: Binay: 3 candidates front-runners for my vice | Honasan finds ‘Bi-Hon not to his taste