BINAY MOTORCADE United Nationalist Alliance standard-bearer, Vice President Jejomar Binay, and other candidates greet supporters during a motorcade in Tondo, Manila, on Sunday. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
FOR THE second time this month, Vice President Jejomar Binay yesterday wooed the Chinese-Filipino community for support, assuring businessmen there would be “no Kim Henares” in his administration.
The standard-bearer of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), his running mate Sen. Gregorio Honasan and their senatorial candidates were invited to speak at Chinese General Hospital in Manila by Binay’s friend, Chinese-Filipino businessman James Dy.
It was the second time in less than a month that Binay had made a public pledge to name right away a new Bureau of Internal Revenue chief upon assuming the presidency, should he win the May presidential election.
He gave the same pledge in a meeting with the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. on Feb. 15.
Speaking in Filipino, Binay said yesterday: “Because there are businessmen here, I don’t want you to have any worries. Within 30 minutes, you will no longer have any Kim Henares (Sa loob ng trenta minutos … wala na kayong Kim Henares).”
Binay drew an applause.
No selective justice
Henares is known to go after big business and other business establishments for their tax dues.
Binay also promised that if they voted for Honasan, the senator could solve the peace and order problem in the country—something Honasan also promised in his speech before Binay spoke.
The UNA standard-bearer promised that his administration would observe the rule of law in filing cases against people.
Binay harped anew on the practice of “selective justice,” as well as on the scare tactics supposedly employed by the present administration.
He also promised similar programs, particularly for the benefit of the poor, that he came up with when he was Makati City mayor.
This would include implementing a national “yellow card” program that, UNA said in a statement, would provide free maternal, child and elderly care, free outpatient consultations and medicines.
‘Decisive’ leadership
“In Makati, no one dies from ailments because they are poor,” Binay said, adding the city government takes care of the indigents.
Binay also promised to establish health centers in the country and that there would be a rural health worker for every health center.
The Vice President said people would not regret voting for him in May because he would be a “decisive leader.”
“The Mamasapano incident will not happen (under my presidency),” he said in a dig at President Aquino, who has been criticized for the way he handled the Special Action Force (SAF) operation to capture terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province, last year.
Forty-four SAF commandos were killed in clashes with Moro rebels during the operation to capture Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, who was also killed.
100-percent support
Binay thanked Dy for inviting him and for being a friend.
Dy pledged his support and that of Philippine Chinese Charitable Association Inc., Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, and Filipino-Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Inc., as well as “my entire clan and the 1.5 million-strong” Chinese-Filipino community behind Binay.
“We will give you our 100 percent support to make a difference in our future,” Dy said.