Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) – Vice President Jejomar Binay on Tuesday (September 1) continued his out of town visits. His first stop this week – Bulacan.
Binay visited the municipalities of Paombong and Plaridel. Hundreds of Bulaceños waited for him and welcomed him warmly. They took selfies with him, hugged the vice president, and even kissed him.
Binay said Bulacan is familiar to him. He served as a human rights lawyer in Bulacan, the home province of his wife, former Makati Mayor Elenita Binay.
In 2010, Binay garnered at least half a million votes in the province against Interior Secretary Mar Roxas who got 400,000 then.
Bulacan has 1.5 million registered voters as of 2013.
Nothing wrong with going around provinces
Binay has been repeatedly called out by his critics for allegedly engaging in premature campaigning.
But for the vice president, there is nothing wrong with what he is doing.
Binay said he is going around the country because he wants to know the problems of the people, especially because he is running for the presidency next year.
“Ako VP naman ako. Hayag naman ako kandidato sa 2016. Ang pag- iikot na ito tinatanong ko kung kamusta ang buhay buhay natin,” Binay said.
According to Binay, this is also his way of addressing the corruption allegations against him.
“Ginagamit ko rin ang pag-iikot na ito para pabulaanan ang mga sinasabi na ako ay magwi-withdraw na at paninira sa aking pagkatao. At saka nagpapaliwanag ako sa mga di makakatotohanang pagbibintang,” he added.
Likewise, Binay said he sees nothing wrong with his potential opponents airing campaign ads as early as now. He says though, it’s unfair that they are using government machineries to their advantage.
“The advantage is there kasi nasa gobyerno sila at nagagamit nila ang govt facilities,” Binay said.
While he refused to name names, Binay cited the giving away of vehicles to local govennment units by Roxas.
“Yung mga nagsasalita ng ganyan, sila nga nagbibigay ng mga kotse, patubig.
Under the law, a person can only commit premature campaigning once he or she is an official candidate already or has filed his or her certificate of candidacy.
“Yun naman ho kasi nagiging mali kung dumating ka na sa eleksyon. Wala pa naman proclamation ng election period so what law has been violated?” Binay pointed out.
Binay also admitted to reporters, he is hopeful that his ratings in the presidential pre-election survey will increase as he has been working hard in going to different barangays.
In the last survey, Binay ranked second to Grace Poe for the first time.
Binay defends INC protest
On the sidelines of his rounds, Binay stood firm on his support for the Iglesia ni Cristo and defended their protest in EDSA.
Binay said government shouldn’t meddle with the religious group’s internal concerns.
He reiterates that the government should respect freedom of religion.
Asked if he is courting the INC vote, Binay only laughed and asked for the next question.
Vice President Jejomar Binay believes Atty. Renato Bondal filed a plunder case against him before the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday because the Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee hearing is already losing its following.
