Binay: UNA banks on support from Cebuanos

CEBU, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay yesterday said that the United Nationalist Alliance is banking on the support of the Cebuanos in the coming elections in May.

“We are banking on the solid support of Cebuanos. When I ran in 2010, it was not more on the leaders but the positive reaction of the people,” said Binay in a press conference yesterday after his  speech at the 27th Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chamber of Commerce and Industry Conference.

Binay said the support of suspended Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is also a big factor for the UNA candidates.

Garcia is the provincial coordinator of UNA, which Binay chairs, while Rama is the city chairman.

“But in Cebu, I feel we will get more than what I’ve got in the 2010 elections,” he said.

Binay lost to Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas in Cebu in the 2010 elections. 

The vice president did not reveal which provinces UNA is strong, only saying that other parties might “invade” their bailiwicks and try to influence the people.

“Hindi ko na lang sasabihin kasi baka diyan mag umpisa ang takutan at sabihin nilang ‘huwag kayong kakampi diyan.’ Galing lang ako Saranggani, malakas kami doon pati na rin sa Iloilo,” he said.

As to the latest Pulse Asia Survey that only four UNA senatorial candidates managed to land in the top 12, Binay said no Liberal Party member was actually on top.

He said Team PNoy candidates Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar and Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillianes are from the Nacionalista Party while Grace Poe is independent.

Senator Chiz Escudero, he said, is an independent candidate and Senator Loren Legarda is from the National People’s Coalition while Sonny Angara is from Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino.

Bam Aquino never claimed to be an LP member.

The four UNA candidates who were in the top 12 were San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada, Senator Koko Pimentel, Nancy Binay and Gringo Honasan.

Rep. Estrada, in a statement, expressed gratitude after the latest Pulse Asia survey showed that he remained 5th among the so-called “Magic 12” or list of senatorial candidates preferred by Filipinos.

In the Pre-Election Survey from February 24-28, 2013, Rep. Estrada placed 5th among the 33 senatorial candidates and was favored by 43.8 per cent of the respondents.

“The sustained strong trust being given to me by Filipino voters inspires me to do more for them,” said Ejercito Estrada.

The San Juan City solon has vowed to pursue measures that will ensure that economic growth rates being posted by the country would translate into more decent jobs for Filipinos.

Meanwhile, Binay said they will throw their support to Garcia who is scheduled to be arraigned on graft charges before the Sandiganbayan.

“We give full support to her. Hindi magbabago ‘yon, our full support will always be there,” Binay added. — /LPM (FREEMAN)