Binay takes time off to prepare for last Comelec debate

United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard bearer Vice President Jejomar C. Binay.
PHOTO BY JOAN BONDOC/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

DAGUPAN, Pangasinan – Vice President Jejomar Binay took a day off from his campaign to prepare for the last presidential debate here that will be held on Sunday.

His campaign team said there was no scheduled campaign sortie today.

In an interview on Friday in Alaminos City, Binay said he would take a day off on Saturday to prepare for the last presidential debates to be hosted by ABS-CBN and Manila Bulletin and organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Binay scoured through the streets in a motorcade and also held campaign rallies in Alaminos City, Binmaley and Dagupan from morning until evening of Friday.

On Saturday, Binay made an ocular visit in the debate venue at the University of Pangasinan in Dagupan.

In an interview after his ocular visit, Binay kept mum when asked how he was preparing for a slew of attacks from Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte during the debate.

Binay had called Duterte a butcher for his alleged links with the Davao Death Squad, and has mocked him for reportedly having a psychological narcissistic disorder.

READ: Binay calls Duterte ‘abnormal,’ says he has ‘sick mind’

Binay had also mocked Duterte for being a pervert and for having a sick mind after the latter made a joke about the rape-slay of Australian missionary Jacqueline Hamill during a 1989 prison riot in Davao City.

READ: Duterte flip-flops on rape apology

Duterte meanwhile had blasted Binay for being corrupt amid allegations of kickbacks the latter purportedly received from overpriced infrastructure deals during his two-decade rule in Makati.

“Let’s just see,” Binay said when asked how he is preparing for a more intense wordwar with Duterte.

READ: It’s jail for Binay, says Duterte camp

Binay had once considered Duterte a running mate and praised the latter for his extensive experience as local government chief executive in Davao City.

Binay’s words turned to vilification after Duterte led the latest voters’ preference polls despite the latter’s admission of ties with the notorious vigilante group in Davao allegedly responsible for summarily killing criminals and drug users.

Asked for his expectations for the last debate, Binay reiterated that the Comelec debates were merely for entertainment and not a healthy discussion of the candidates’ platforms.

Binay was at the receiving end of criticisms and mudslinging during the March debates in Cebu after his rivals ganged up on him and pinned him for alleged corruption in Makati.

READ: Rivals gang up on Binay

“Hindi naman debate po ‘yon. ‘Yon talagang dahilan ng activity. Bakit ba ginawa ito? (That’s not a debate. That’s not the reason behind the activity. Why do we do this?)” Binay said.

Binay was a subject of a year-long Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing which investigated the alleged corruption anomalies under Binay’s watch. He was also indicted by the Ombudsman for graft, malversation and falsification of public documents for allegedly rigging the procurement for the design of the Makati car park building. CDG