Binay goes to Batangas, woos father’s home province

Jejomar Binay visits his father’s home province Batangas during the fourth day of the national campaign. MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB/INQUIRER.net

NASUGBU, Batangas – Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday took his motorcade to Batangas on the fourth day of the national elections campaign.

Binay’s motorcade first stopped by Barangay Wawa, Nasugbu where he delivered a speech at the plaza telling the audience of his Batangueño roots.

Binay’s father Diego Binay hails from Bauan municipality.

“Buong buo ang pagkatao ko, ang kakuriputan. Ang mga taga-Batangas, kilala na talagang mahilig mag-ipon ng pera,” Binay said.

(My character is solid, [of] being frugal. People who hail from Batangas are known for being fond of saving money.)

Binay said it was about time Batangas has another president to lead the country – the last one being Pres. Jose P. Laurel, the puppet president during the Japanese occupation.

He said Corazon Aquino’s vice president Salvador “Doy” Laurel, the son of former Pres. Laurel, was also a Batangueño. Both Laurels hail from Tanauan.

Binay said he is the most qualified presidential candidate because of his executive experience as Makati mayor.

He chided other candidates, who are experienced but bumbling (“palpak”), an implied swipe at Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas who was criticized as being dazed and confused when he was interior secretary at the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban.

Binay also chided another candidate who despite her little experience suddenly decided to become president, a swipe apparently implied at Sen. Grace Poe, who has had only three years serving in the Senate.

“Mayroon diyan nga kandidato, may karanasan nga ang karanasan kapalpakan… Hindi natin kailangan ng pangulo na natulog lang, nagising, gusto na maging pangulo. What we need is a president who has an executive ability,” Binay said.

(There are candidates out there who may be experienced, but their experience is at incompetence…We don’t need a president who simply went to bed, woke up, and suddenly wishing to become president. What we need is a president who has an executive ability.)

Binay drew the most cheers when he said had the same skintone as the ordinary Batangas folk, and that he would improve the current administration’s conditional cash transfer (CCT).

READ: Binay promises free uniforms, books, expanded CCT, tax cuts

Binay said he would weed out unqualified beneficiaries from the CCT or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and that he would include the senior citizens aged 60 to 64 in the program.

Binay blasted the administration for including among the beneficiaries the friends and relatives of those in power.

Binay refuted the rumors he said were being spread by his former colleagues in the administration that he would discontinue the CCT. Binay resigned from the Cabinet to assume the opposition figure.

“Ito ay kasinungalingan. Ang nakakalungkot, ang nagkakalat ang mga kasamahan ko sa pamahalaan. Ang sinasabi, huwag niyo iboto si Binay, hindi niya ipagpapatuloy ang 4Ps. Kasinungalingan po yan,” Binay said.

(This is a lie. Unfortunately, those who are spreading this are my colleagues in government. What they are saying is that you shouldn’t vote for Binay, he won’t continue the 4Ps. That’a a lie.)

He said he would implement in the Philippines what he had done in Makati, where he said he was able to increase its funds from just P240 million when he started to almost P11 billion when he left office.

Binay said he has provided free social services to the poor and elderly in Makati.

“Ganito kami sa Makati, ganito ang pangarap ko maging ang buong bansa,” he said.

(That’s how we are in Makati, and that’s my dream for the whole country.)

Binay’s motorcade with his running mate Gringo Honasan and senatorial slate are expected to drop by the municipalities of Balayan, Calaca, Lemery, and Bauan, as well as in Batangas City. CDG