Aquino: He’s no longer the Jejomar Binay I knew

President Benigno Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

He is no longer the Jejomar Binay that he knew.

Exactly one month before Election Day, President Benigno Aquino III on Friday delivered his most scathing diatribe yet against Vice President Jejomar Binay, an erstwhile ally and family friend, in Makati City, the latter’s stronghold for the past three decades.

President Aquino said that the Binay he knew was one who was selfless and stood up against martial law.

The President said that Binay earned his admiration 30 years ago, when as the Edsa People Power Revolution unfolded, Binay accompanied him back to his sisters who were at home on Times Street even when his own life was in danger.

“And that time, I really became close to him because he put our welfare first before his. That was 30 years ago. It was clear to him that it was others first before himself,” Mr. Aquino said.

Then addressing Binay directly, the President said:

“It is true that we counted on each other. We were against the dictatorship and we were ready to sacrifice our lives for our fellow men. That was how we had a deep relationship.”

“It was very clear during those days who Jejomar Binay was. Today, my question is: “Where has the Jejomar Binay I knew before gone?” Mr. Aquino asked.

Some 3,000 Makati City residents that also included beneficiaries of the government’s conditional cash transfer program and the lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual community and people with disabilities filled Makati Coliseum on Friday, cheering as the President delivered solid punches against Binay.

Although obviously still under the weather, President Aquino was in fighting form.

Binay was the only candidate that President Aquino has named in a stump speech since the campaign began.

“Your former mayor here called me incompetent and callous. But my question to him is, how has someone who is incompetent and callous turned a former ‘sick man of Asia’ into ‘Asia’s rising tiger?’ Can an incompetent person lead the modernization of the Armed Forces, the police and even the fire bureau? Is it callousness and incompetence if one is able to bring health services to the poorest 40 percent of our population and bring the conditional cash transfer program to almost 4.6 million households?” Mr. Aquino said in Filipino.

The President said his concern for the people went beyond giving them cake, referring to the practice of the Binay city administration of giving birthday cakes to residents who are senior citizens.

“He has been facing corruption allegations since 2014. Am I the only one who is waiting for a clear answer from this person who is among those wanting to be President of the Philippines?” Mr. Aquino asked.

Binay cut ties with President Aquino in June last year at the height of the Senate investigation of his alleged graft-laden deals when he was still mayor of Makati City.

Binay declared himself the leader of the opposition and has since been critical of Mr. Aquino and his administration.

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