It is too early to use the word shoo-in. But unless something really unfortunate happens between now and 2016, most people would agree that Vice President Jejomar Binay is the force to reckon with in the presidential election of that year.
Noynoy Aquino’s runningmate in 2010, Mar Roxas, continues to grow moist at the thought of 2016. But whether he admits it or not, the “unexpected” drubbing he got from Binay in 2010 does not make his prospects for a 2016 return bout, this time for higher office, any more promising.
There are other probabilities in 2016, brought about by other “presidentiables.” There is Jinggoy Estrada and there is Chiz Escudero. There might even be Bongbong Marcos. But they all belong to a similar age bracket that can only split their support to their disadvantage.
Binay, on the other hand, is at a certain level that transcends different age categories. And his “surprise” come-from-behind win in 2010 tells us something most political analysts missed the first time — that the guy enjoys support that is more real than readily apparent.
Just consider the recent surveys. Binay’s numbers are soaring while that of Noynoy, one of the most popular presidents ever elected, are dropping. Yet Binay is not getting complacent. He is not resting. Already, this early, he is stumping.
Last Wednesday Binay was in Cebu. He picked a very controversial issue, one that involves the masses and has pitted the top local political leaders against one another, to handle. Then he did precisely nothing.
Right at the outset, Binay himself knew he could not get himself embroiled in a local quarrel, not even if the core issue deserves a place on his plate, being chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, a largely ceremonial if high-sounding body.
But when you are vice president, your presence still means something, even if you do nothing. This time Binay is simply content with a share of the limelight — one handshake here, one page one photo there. If he can pile it up and stay clear, 2016 will be his year.