Binay a ‘prima donna,’ says Duterte camp

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

THE PARTY of presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte called Vice President Jejomar Binay a  “prima donna” for delaying the presidential debate on Sunday at the University of the Philippines in Cebu.

“Rules are rules,” Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, president of  the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, said, expressing surprise at Binay’s  insistence on bringing notes to the podium during the debate.

“You are all presidential candidates. There should be no feeling that one is more important than the other, or you are a prima donna,” Pimentel said.

The debate was stalled for over one hour because Binay wanted to have his notes with him during the debate.

Duterte said that allowing Binay to present documents during the debate “is an aberration of the procedure.”

“The problem is we do not have the procedure to confirm the authenticity of his documents,” Duterte said.

The Davao City mayor urged Binay to give up his demand.

“Can we have a happy compromise here?” Duterte said. ‘’Sir, don’t use your notes… let’s save the situation.”

Pimentel said Binay was apparently trying to bend the rules.

“All must comply with and follow the rules,” Pimentel said. ‘’Otherwise, if you become president and you carry that attitude and character with you, you feel that you are above the law.”

What happened was a giveaway of what kind of person the Vice President really was, said Pimentel.

PDP Laban spokesperson Paola Alvarez said: “Binay says he is the most qualified and the most experienced. But why did he insist on bringing a codigo  (cheat sheet) to the debate?”

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