Binay confident of Erap’s support for presidential bid

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay said he remains confident that former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada will support him in the 2016 presidential race.

“I think so, we have no issues,” Binay told reporters in Calamba, Laguna on Monday when asked if he thinks he will still get Estrada’s support after Sen. Grace Poe declared her intention to run for president next year.

Binay said he believes he and Estrada would still be together in next year’s polls.

“I owe it to him (Estrada) that he included me as his vice presidential candidate in 2010,” he said.

Poe is the daughter of Estrada’s best friend, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. Estrada is also Poe’s godfather. 

Estrada, in previous media interviews, said he was torn between endorsing Binay, his political ally, and Poe.

Binay, Estrada and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, or the so-called “Three Kings,” formed the coalition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) to campaign for the Estrada-Binay tandem in 2010.

Binay launched UNA as his political party for the 2016 polls last July 1.

Estrada’s nephew, former Laguna governor ER Ejercito, has remained with UNA.

Binay said he recently had lunch with the former president at the Manila City Hall but they did not talk about the 2016 elections.

“Let’s just say that it goes without saying,” he said, when pressed if he was sure of Estrada’s support.

The Vice President said he is not affected by the erratic results of recent presidential surveys.

“You know, just like many of you, I’m confused by the results of the surveys,” he said.

“In the RMN (Radio Mindanao Network) survey I was number one. In the SWS (Social Weather Stations) I’m no. 3, but the following day I’m no. 2. In the Pulse Asia survey, at first I was at no. 2, now I’m third. So it’s confusing,” he said.

“I just have to work harder to explain to our countrymen why I should be elected president of the country,” Binay said.

Meanwhile, 10 officials from Bacolod City and Negros Occidental were sworn in as members of the National Unity Party (NUP) during its national convention at Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City last Monday.

Rep. Leo Rafael Cueva of Negros Occidental 2nd District and 4th District Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer led the new NUP members.

Other Negrenses who joined the NUP were 4th District Board Member Jose Benito Alonso and his brother Pontevedra Mayor Jose Maria Alonso, San Enrique Mayor Mario Magno, La Carlota City Vice Mayor Luis Jalandoni, Isabela Vice Mayor Francis Malabor, Bacolod Councilor Alex Paglumotan, Bacolod Liga ng mga Barangay president Noli Villarosa, and former Bacolod Councilor Homer Bais. – With Danny Dangcalan