Abigail Binay, Kid Peña confident of win on May 9 in Makati

Acting Makati Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña and Abigail Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA — Makati 2nd District Rep. Abigail Binay has expressed confidence that she will win in her city’s mayoral race on May 9, claiming that an internal survey revealed that 70 percent of Makati residents still prefer her to rival Makati City Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña.

Binay’s spokesperson Joey Salgado said on Thursday, that a private company-commissioned internal survey showed that most residents in the city preferred a Binay to lead Makati to Peña due to his “bad governance.”

The Binay camp also claimed the subsequent filing of a five-month study leave by the department heads, whom Peña earlier appointed, as an act to “prepare for the takeover of Binay.”

These are Ramilia Cruzado of the City Administration, City Secretary Ariel Labra, City Engineer Waldemar Dabuet, City Budget Officer Aileen Soriano, and Department of Environmental Services head Danny Villas.

Binay has criticized Peña for avoiding forums in which they were supposed to showcase their programs and platforms of government.

“It’s a big responsibility for us to give out all essential information … so that the residents of Makati will have an adequate basis in choosing the right candidate for Mayor,” said the daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Should she win as mayor, Binay said that she would review the programs Peña has implemented to check their legitimacy.

Asked for comment about the study leaves of his appointees, Peña’s camp said the claim of Binay’s camp was “bogus” and “fabrication.” “We categorically deny their statement. Only Villas filed for a study leave. They also cannot provide necessary documents to prove their claim,” Makati City Information Officer Gibo Delos Reyes said.

Delos Reyes added that Peña was confident that he had earned the trust of the people of Makati since assuming office in July last year when dismissed Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay stepped down from office.

They will also release on Friday the results of a survey of 9,000 households in Makati, according to Delos Reyes.

He added that Peña’s political stock has definitely been boosted by the endorsements of  leading presidential bets, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Grace Poe.

“Mayor ‘Kid’ Peña expressed his gratitude to Mayor Duterte and Senator Poe for their support to his campaign and Bagong Makati advocacy,” Delos Reyes said but clarified that, “his support remains with Roxas and the Liberal Party ticket being a stalwart of this political party.” (With a report from John Cyril Yee) SFM