Abi Binay may run in Junjun’s stead

Makati City Rep. Mar-Len Abigail Binay has said she will have to run for mayor of the city if her brother Junjun is barred from office forever.

In an interview on Friday, Representative Binay said the worst case scenario was for her to replace her beleaguered brother who was dismissed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales from service for grave misconduct and serious dishonesty.

READ: Junjun Binay dismissal ‘end of Binay dynasty,’ says Trillanes

“Worst case scenario, tatakbo ako (I’m going to run [for office]), sorry,” Rep. Binay said.

“That’s the worst case scenario. If my brother cannot run I would most probably have to run for mayor,” she added.

Rep. Binay said she does not intend to remove her brother of his position, what with the legal remedies present for Mayor Binay to appeal the Ombudsman’s order of dismissal.

“Hindi ako nagpe-presenta kasi po may isa pang term pa ang kapatid ko, pero kung kailangan tumakbo ako dahil hindi pwedeng tumakbo ang kapatid ko, (I’m not presenting myself because by brother has another term left but I needed, I’d run if my brother can’t,) I would be forced to run for mayor,” Binay said.

Rep. Binay said it is her last term in Congress. She would let her husband Luis Campos take her place as congressional candidate next year.

Rep. Binay said her brother would file a motion for reconsideration to the Ombudsman.

The Makati representative said the timing of her brother’s dismissal was suspicious on the ground that it was done ahead of the filing of the certificates of candidacy on Oct. 12.

She said her father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, who had declared his intention to run for President, was obviously the target of this move.

“Ang gusto nilang umatras siya para di na tumakbo, pangalawa para humina ang kaniyang numero sa surveys. Yun naman talaga gusto nilang goal sa pag-fa-file ng kaso. Alam naman natin sa batas, na impeachable officer si VP and yet they are willing to violate the constitution para masunod ang gusto nila para hindi lumaban si vice president as president in 2016,” Binay said.

“So anu mang mangyari, hindi siya aatras, hindi ugali ng aking ama na umatras, kahit sa anung laban,” she added.

Rep. Binay said she hoped she could wake up from this so-called nightmare of her family being targeted by the administration.

“Para itong bangungot na inaantay kong gigising kaming lahat. Ganun pong kasimple. Hinahintay naming matapos ang eleksyon sa 2016 dahil parang araw araw, mayroon silang bagong binabato sa amin. Kung pwede gisingin na kami kung eleksiyon na,” Binay said.

“Pero hindi matitinag ang katibayan ng loob naming lahat, ng aming pamilya,” she added.

Mayor Binay was sacked and perpetually barred from serving in public office for grave misconduct and serious dishonesty, in connection with his administrative liability over the allegedly anomalous bidding, construction, and payment of the P2.28 billion Makati carpark building project.

In its order of dismissal, the Ombudsman said Mayor Binay rigged the procurement for the architectural design and construction of the Makati Parking Building II to favor Mana Architecture and Design Co. and Hilmarc’s Construction Corp.

Mayor Binay also processed and approved a series of four payments worth P11.97 million to MANA even though it failed to submit complete deliverables such as design plans, working drawings and technical specifications, the Ombudsman said. MJ Cayabyab/TVJ

RELATED STORY

Ombudsman orders dismissal of Junjun Binay