VP Binay son-in-law Luis Campos running for wife Abigail’s seat

Luis Campos. FILE PHOTO

Luis Campos, the husband of third-term Makati Rep. Abigail Binay, is running for the seat of Makati City’s first district in the House of Representatives next year.

This was confirmed on Saturday by Binay, who said that she will not run for any position in next year’s elections.

“Yes, my husband is running. The decision for my husband to run was made as early as 2012,” said Binay, who first ran for the House as a 31-year-old lawyer in 2007.

Campos is a businessman and belongs to the prominent Nakpil family. He and Binay met at Ateneo Law School in 1998.

Binay is serving her third and final term in the House.

Binay clarified reports that she would be running in place of her brother, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, who was ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman on Friday for grave misconduct and serious dishonesty in a case involving alleged overpricing in the construction of Makati City Hall Building II.

“The dismissal order against my brother is patently illegal. He can and will file his certificate of candidacy this week,” said Binay, referring to the Commission on Election’s Oct. 16 deadline for filing of certificates of candidacy.

Mayor Binay is serving his second term at City Hall, but the Ombudsman’s dismissal order includes perpetual disqualification from public office.

Binay said she would run only in a “worst-case scenario,” where her brother would be disqualified from running for a third and final term as Makati mayor.

Mayor Binay can either bring a motion for reconsideration or raise the Ombudsman order to the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court.

Their father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, a presidential candidate in next year’s elections, is facing corruption and plunder charges in the Office of the Ombudsman.

The Vice President said on Saturday that he expected to be arrested soon.

If the Binays are shut out of next year’s elections, only Sen. Nancy Binay will be left in power.

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