Binay to keep low profile after baring presidential bid

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines  – After declaring his intention to run for president in 2016, Vice President Jejomar Binay said yesterday he would keep a low profile at the moment to keep potential detractors at bay. 

“My desire to run is there but as much as possible, I will avoid politicking,” Binay told supporters here at the launching of Region 2 Pabahay Caravan. He said his early announcement of his plans may have opened him to political attacks and imperiled his projects. Binay also distributed land titles here to beneficiaries of the shelter project initiated by his office.

Binay also announced the establishment of the Ybanag Heritage Foundation as part of initiatives to preserve the Ybanag culture. Binay’s mother Erlinda Cabauatan-Binay, a school librarian, is an Ybanag. She was born and raised in the town of Cabagan.

In Malolos City, Binay’s son and namesake Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay said his father is undeterred by possible political attacks that may arise from his early announcement of his presidential bid.

The younger Binay attended the 113th anniversary of the opening of the Malolos Congress on behalf of his father.

“It’s no secret that he is planning to run for the presidency in 2016. As a matter of fact, he was supposed to run last year, but he gave way to the candidacy of President Aquino,” the younger Binay said.

“A lot of people want him to run for President as it was also his childhood dream,” he said.

He said his father hopes to achieve for the country what he had accomplished in Makati when he was still mayor.

Mayor Junjun also stressed that his father is not a member of the opposition, but is actually a supporter of the President’s programs and agendas. – Raymund Catindig, Charlie Lagasca, Dino Balabo