Abby Binay tells voters: Unite a divided country

Makati Rep. Abigail “Abby” Binay, daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, urged the electorate to unite on the election day to fix a divided country.

After casting her vote at San Jose Elementary School in Makati on Monday with her husband Luis Campos, Abby made the statement when asked whether or not there is a lot at stake for the Binay family in the elections.

Abby’s father, Vice President Binay, is seeking the presidency with corruption allegations hounding his candidacy after the Office of the Ombudsman vowed to charge him with graft, malversation and falsification of public documents at the end of his term.

The vice president and his son dismissed Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay were indicted for supposedly rigging the procurement of the allegedly overpriced Makati car park building. Junjun faces the charges at the Sandiganbayan.

READ: Binay says he has ‘victory speech’ ready

Abby is running for Makati mayor against acting Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña Jr., who replaced Abby’s brother Junjun when the latter was dismissed as city mayor by the Ombudsman for grave misconduct and serious dishonesty over the alleged Makati car park overprice.

“Kung sino man ang manalong presidente, tandaan natin na (Whoever wins the president, let us remember that) he is inheriting a divided nation. The President needs to unify all the factions because, let’s admit, magiging minority President siya (he will become a minority President). Ang kailangan yung presidente na ipagsasama-sama yung mga factions (What we need is a President who will unite the factions),” Abby said.

Asked about the stakes for their family in the elections, Abby said: “I think you have to take into context, hindi lang naman pamilya namin sa presidential elections (our family is not the only one who is at stake here). Buhay natin ang nakasalalay dito (We are talking about our future).”

READ: Binay joins wife, daughter Abby in voting

Abby said the country should accept the winning President, whoever he or she may be.

“Change is coming, and whatever change it is, it’s something we have to learn to accept,” Abby said.

She said she felt relieved that the 45-day local campaign period is over and she could go back to spending quality time with her family.

Abby pleaded to the Commission on Elections to ensure clean and orderly elections so that possible cheating may be rendered too minor to affect the outcome of the polls.

Abby made this reaction after her father warned of massive cheating to rob Binay of his shot to Malacañang. With reports from John Anthony Dungan, INQUIRER.net trainee/RAM/rga

READ: After casting his vote, Binay warns of massive cheating