Binay at PNPA homecoming: No politics please

SAN PEDRO, Laguna—Vice President Jejomar Binay will be addressing the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA)  alumni homecoming in Cavite on Saturday, but he has been asked by his hosts not to talk politics.

Binay, who is running for president under the United Nationalist Alliance, is not to use his speech to campaign, seek votes or disparage his political rivals, said the PNPA Alumni Association Inc. (PNPAAAI) which extended the invitation.

According to Chief Insp. Ritchie Yatar, the PNPA spokesperson, the vice president is by tradition the guest of honor at the homecoming while the president graces the graduation exercises, “regardless of who they are.”

The invitation was extended to Binay because of his position as vice president, “nothing more,” Yatar said.

He said that while PNPAAAI officials cannot screen Binay’s speech, they have recommended that the vice president avoid discussing politics.

“We believe he is honorable and responsible,” Yatar said.

The 36th PNPA alumni homecoming will be held at the academy in Silang, Cavite, on Saturday, while the 37th commencement exercises will be held on March 10. The academy has set its two major events earlier than usual this year because of the May 9 elections.

According to Yatar, some groups have protested Binay’s presence at the Saturday event, saying it might give him an undue advantage over his rivals.

But the PNPAAAI is not about to break with tradition, said Yatar who sits on the PNPAAAI board of trustees.

He said Binay is the only candidate in the national elections who will be formally acknowledged in Saturday’s program.

Yatar said the PNPAAAI has issued guidelines to alumni classes for inviting their adopted members who are also running in the May elections.

Some candidates adopted by various PNPA classes are Senators Gregorio Honasan, Alan Peter Cayetano, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Francis Escudero and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, who are all running for vice president.

Binay is an adopted member of PNPA Class 1987.

“They may [invite these candidates], as long as they don’t carry ‘Vote for’ [campaign] banners or campaign openly. They will not be acknowledged… should they decide to join the [alumni] parade,” Yatar said. Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon