Abby replaces Junjun as Makati mayoral bet

MANILA, Philippines - Makati District 2 Rep. Mar-Len Abigail “Abby” Binay-Campos yesterday filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) as mayor in lieu of her brother, dismissed mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay.

Binay-Campos chose District 1 Rep. Monique Lagdameo as her running mate under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) party.

Binay-Campos is serving her third and final term while Lagdameo is on her second term as representative. 

Binay-Campos arrived at the Makati Commission on Elections (Comelec) office at about 10:30 a.m. accompanied by Junjun; her sister, Sen. Nancy Binay; her mother, former Makati mayor Elenita Binay; and her father, Vice President Jejomar Binay. 

Running as Binay-Campos’ replacement as District 2 representative is her husband, Luis Campos, while incumbent city Councilor Ma. Concepcion Yabut was fielded by UNA as Lagdameo’s possible replacement as District 1 representative.

 Last-minute decision

Speaking to reporters after filing her COC, Binay-Campos said she only decided to run on Wednesday night after discussions with her family and UNA officials.

She said her family and UNA officials decided to field her as a candidate after the Department of Interior and Local Government reportedly harassed her brother.

“The fight needs to continue so I filed my COC for mayor,” she said. 

Binay-Campos added that while they initially planned that Junjun would also file his separate COC as mayor, they junked the plan to avoid giving the impression that she and her brother were running against each other.

Binay-Campos said she is qualified to run as mayor and plans to set measures into motion to solve the city’s woes, such as traffic jams.

“I am a third-term congresswoman. I am a lawyer. Ever since I was little, I would accompany my father as he went from house to house,” she said. 

 Stopgap

Meanwhile, Binay-Campos said should her brother be able to find a legal remedy and again be given the chance to seek re-election for his third and final term, she is willing to give way.

“Substitution is allowed until Dec. 10. It can happen. I have no problem with that,” she said.

Binay-Campos also said her family will fight to clear the name of her brother, who had been ordered dismissed from government service by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building 2.