One or two members of a family running for government positions is OK. Five at a time—like a basketball team—is not.
That was Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas’ answer when asked in an interview if he thought that the Binay family, longtime critics of Roxas, had been ruling for a long time in Makati City.
“This is not (a) personal (attack) against anyone. If the people are electing the Binays, then so be it. But what’s important here is, isa-isa o dalawa lang, hindi lima-lima na parang basketball team,” Roxas said over dzMM radio on Wednesday.
“Wala na bang ibang hanapbuhay o pagkakakitaan sa Pilipinas?” he added.
Roxas said he supported the antipolitical dynasty bill, as he believed that Philippine politics “needs some fresh air and new principles.”
The LP candidate added that he was pleased that some people acknowledged the fact that there was only one “Roxas” in the government.
For nine years, Vice President Jejomar Binay—Roxas’ opponent in the presidential race—served as the mayor of Makati.
He was succeeded for five years by his son Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr., who was later suspended from office over corruption allegations.
In next year’s elections, Binay’s daughter Makati Rep. Abigail Binay will run for mayor of the city while her husband, Luis Campos, will run for second district representative.
Meanwhile, another daughter, Nancy Binay, is holding office at the Senate. Julliane Love de Jesus/RC