RP’s Obama? Binay declares presidential bid

Makati City Mayor Jejomar “Jojo” Binay yesterday announced his plans to join the 2010 presidential race.

Comparing himself to US President-elect Barack Obama, Binay boldly announced his intentions before a crowd celebrating his 66th birthday at the Makati City Hall yesterday.

Binay vowed to lead a voters’ revolution and save the Philippines, which he branded an “orphan country,” from a “step-President.”

Binay said the voters’ revolution will install a government that will restore “the people’s dignity, give priority to health care and education, look after the elderly, and promote transparency and accountability in government.”

“Four years ago, our beloved Philippines was orphaned by fraud. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, under the most dubious electoral conditions, ascended to the presidency. And the nightmare of the step-President and the orphan nation began,” he declared.

Binay began his acceptance speech with a litany against Mrs. Arroyo and the administration, which he claimed had made Filipinos poorer and more hungry.

“Today you formally ask me to lead you towards the victory of our revolution – a revolution that will install a government that will redeem our people’s dignity by making our economy work. And I mean, really work – so that every time the numbers on the economic charts go upward, so will the food on our tables be in greater abundance,” Binay declared.

Binay joined the list of early presidential favorites that includes Vice President Noli de Castro, Senate President Manuel Villar Jr., Senators Manuel Roxas, Loren Legarda, Panfilo Lacson, Richard Gordon, Francis Escudero, Jesus is Lord founder Bro. Eddie Villanueva and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando.

Former President Joseph Estrada, on the other hand, vouched for Binay, saying the Makati mayor has an excellent track record.

Estrada said Binay has proven himself as chief executive of the country’s premier financial district.
According to Estrada, Binay is among his “favorites.”

“He is one of the favorites in terms of his capability and experience as the chief executive of the central business district in our country. He has the edge over the other presidentiables in the opposition because of his experience in local governance,” he said.

Binay has been in the national scene as one of the critics of the administration since he is the president of the United Opposition (UNO). He is also one of Estrada’s closest friends and allies.

Estrada said Binay has an edge over Villar, Lacson, Roxas, Legarda, and Escudero since the senators have no experience in local governance.

Estrada, however, did not say if Binay would the anointed one to lead the opposition to victory in the 2010 polls.

The former president said he would only be the last option. “As I have said many times, I will only run if the opposition cannot unite behind a single candidate,” Estrada said.

Qualified

Villar, for his part, conceded Binay is good presidential material but he refused to comment if the Makati mayor is a threat to his political ambition.

He said Binay is a “very qualified person” to run as president, just like anybody else.

“But eventually, it is the Filipino people who would decide who becomes president,” Villar added.

Villar also downplayed the possibility of a divided opposition after Binay openly declared his intention to run in the 2010 presidential elections.
On the other hand, Lacson wished Binay good luck.

“I wish him luck, sincerely,” he said. “Everybody has the capability to become president.”

Escudero, for his part, said: “My wish for Mayor Binay is for his birthday wish to come true.”

Escudero though skirted the issue on his plans for 2010.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said he was surprised over Binay’s announcement.

“I thought he was running for vice (president) or senator. I did not expect it. But I think Mayor Binay is very qualified and he is a very kind man. His heart also goes for the poor. I think he is also sincere,” he said.

With Binay joining the race, the younger Estrada said UNO has not reached a consensus on who will be the opposition’s standard-bearer for 2010.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., chairman of the PDP-Laban that has Binay as party president, also expressed confidence on the Makati mayor’s ability to become president.

“Mayor Binay will be another candidate coming from the ranks of the opposition. So in the end, we have to sit down to determine who should be the stardard bearer,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel doused speculations that Binay’s announcement has derailed further the hopes of Estrada’s dream for the political opposition to throw full support behind a single candidate in 2010.

He expressed hope that members of the opposition will later sit down to support a lone presidential bet.

“In politics, anything is possible. I am quite optimistic,” Pimentel said.

Among the candidates from the political opposition, Pimentel said Binay is the lone candidate that has established presence and contacts among local government officials.

Pimentel noted supporters have branded Binay as the Philippines’ version of Obama.

‘Spoiler’

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, for her part, said she might consider running “just to be a spoiler.”

“Well, make me angry enough, and I will run for president just to prove a point, just to be a spoiler,” Santiago said with a laugh.

Santiago added she wanted to prove before the world that she is an effective state leader, especially after losing her bid for a seat in the International Court of Justice.

But first, Santiago said, she would have to check her “Swiss bank account” to scrounge around for P3 billion to finance her campaign.

Santiago said she wanted to become an ICJ judge to try a different field, as Philippine politics has become too boring for her.

She said seeking another term in the Senate could be an option, but the idea already makes her yawn.

Santiago said she was so bored with politics that she “wants to buy a mountain and live on top of it” to completely get away from it all.

Malacañang, however, cautioned presidential aspirants against early politicking since it would distract the nation from addressing the economic difficulties arising from the global financial crisis.

“We expect there will be more politicians to announce intentions to run for the presidency and other positions as well, but it’s too early for us to talk about politics now, especially with present economic crisis we are facing,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said.

“We believe there are more important matters to deal with. I don’t want to comment on it for now,” she said.

Fajardo said it would be better if the people see the country’s political leaders working on economic programs that “would benefit them everyday and sustaining programs to make their lives better.”

When asked if Malacañang considers Binay a serious contender, she said: “I’m sorry I cannot comment on the Binay issue any further.”

“He (Binay) has the right to run for office. For that matter, anybody has the right if he or she feels they have a chance and is qualified and wants to serve the country,” Fajardo said.

She added the “public should be smart enough to see the quality of leaders that we want in the future.” philstar.com