That’s because surveys showed that Binay is way, way ahead of other politicians who have ambitions to run for president in 2016.
When Pulse Asia asked 1,200 representative adults, 18 years old and above last June 24 through July 2, who they would vote for president if elections were held at that time, 41 percent said, “Binay.” That’s a good number. Analysts say that a presidential candidate has to have at least 40 per cent of the votes cast to win the presidency.
After Binay was Sen. Grace Poe with 12 per cent. As of now, however, Poe remains unconvinced about running for the top post especially if it’s primarily to prevent Binay from becoming president.
Third was former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada with nine percent. This is something to be concerned about which we will take up in future columns.
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the Liberal Party’s candidate, presumably the candidate also of Aquino, was preferred only by seven percent of the respondents. He had the same following as senators Chiz Escudero and Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
Senators Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Alan Cayetano, both vying to be the Nacionalista Party’s standard bearer for 2016, were each preferred by only five per cent of the respondents.
Given what seems to be the overwhelming advantage of Binay, the other presidential aspirants know that they have to improve their appeal to the voters in the next 20 months. They also have to pull down Binay.
Or better yet, eliminate Binay from the race to level playing field.
If one is to believe coffee shop talks about institutionalized corruption in Makati, Binay is one smart politician to have gotten away with it the past so many years.
But his political opponents want to make sure that this time they will get him. In the Senate, Cayetano together with Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Aquilino Pimentel III are leading the investigation against the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall building 2.
Plunder charges have been filed against the Vice President and his mayor son over the Makati City Hall building 2. The Office of the Special Prosecutor of the Ombudsman has also revived graft and malversation charges against Mrs. Binay in connection with overpriced hospital beds in the Ospital ng Makati during her tem as the city’s chief executive.
Aquino, who has made the anti-corruption crusade his administration’s banner program, has tried to keep a distance from the demolition job on Binay saying only that “the truth will set us all free.”
However, he has stressed several times, in the presence of Roxas that he wants someone who will continue his “Tuwid na Daan” crusade to succeed him.
But it seems that even in his camp, Aquino cannot get everybody to join the “Demolish Binay” campaign. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. doused cold water on impeachment plans against Binay saying a vice president cannot be impeached for acts he did as mayor.
This is not surprising.It will be recalled that in the 2010 presidential elections, one faction in the Aquino camp was Noy-BI ( Pnoy for president and Binay for vice president).
The Noy-BI supporters included Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., who worked as city administrator when Belmonte was Quezon City mayor.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima last Friday told media she was not pleased that Renato Bondal, one of the witnesses against Binay who was placed under the Witness Protection Program, held a press conference reacting to the speech of Binay last Thursday, without the DOJ’s permission.
Binay, in his Thursday speech, did not present proofs to dispute the allegations of corruption in the Makati City Hall Building II.
Since congressmen are not eager to impeach Binay, another option to disqualify him from the presidential race is to convict him of plunder. Not just charge and imprison him because unless convicted, he can still run for president. He might even get sympathy votes. He has to be convicted and the conviction deemed final and executory
Those who want a level playing field for the 2016 elections have about one year and half to do that.
Would you still consider it a “demolition job” if the allegations against VP Binay are true?
For me, it is fair game to subject anyone and everyone aspiring to become President of this country to intense scrutiny. That is the only way we can be certain of the true colors and character of the candidates for this very important office.
If the allegations against VP Binay are true, it is best that we find out now rather than later so the voters can be guided by election time. Mahirap na magoyo na naman tayo pagkatapos ay magkumahog tayo dahil kailangan na namang impeach ang Pangulo dahil hindi tayo nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na tunay siyang makilala bago ang halalan.
tama ka dyan, ramses. now is a good time as any. by his previous actions, sa mga nagawa niya, binay himself amply provided ammunitions for the leveling of his own playing field. kung malinis siya at wala siyang masamang nagawa ay wala siyang ikakabahala. now is a good time as any to ask him about the overpriced makati parking building. makati is his turf, answering querries should not be difficult. and now too, is the best time to clear his name, he’ll be entering the presedential race with clean slate.
indications are if ever he become president, you can never ask him anything. tatalikuran ka lang.
pamumulitika lang daw yan. but he’s a long standing politician, well versed in politics and backed up by years of experience, he should be able to play politics to the hilt, not falter under questioning. it appears that truth has made him skittish, less able to respond, less able to stand his ground.
Well, let see..has any member of the Marcos clan been found guilty of any crime of Corruption in any kind of Court, or are the living ones still in Power? Or all the allegations of the Marcos plundering just a demolition job to kick him out of power and or to temporarily exile his family from power? to come back some other time…
Mr. Binay knew this too well…where Enrile eventually failed, he might as well go the Marcos way if not for him, for his lineage in the years to come…
And maybe just maybe his family and supporters will hail him as one of the Greatest heroes and Civil Rights crusader who made himself very Wealthy crusading for Civil Rights…and that will be the very FIRST.
Sa pagkaintindi, because Binay is an impeachable official, he cannot be taken to court unless he is first impeached. Tama naman si Belmonte na hindi siya owedeng ma-impeach for acts committed while he was a mayor. Kailangan yata yun impeachable acts were committed during his vice presidency. At any rate, kung gugustuhin ng House they can gather the numbers to do it. Pero getting the 2/3 vote to convict in the Senate is problematic. Bakit? Tatlo suspended, we don’t know if they can vote or not. If they can vote, alam na natin na they will vote not guilty. If they cannot vote then it will be the same as not guilty vote din because the 2/3 requirement stands. Of the remaining senators who can vote, there is JV and Nancy. And then there is Gringo and Sotto. So pito na yan na hindi boboto to convict. Seventeen ang natitirang possible conviction votes. Dalawa na lang ang kailangan kausapin ni Binay o di kaya ikulong sa elevator sa araw ng botohan. 🙂
Manuel @ 4..here is another issue that could use an amendment to the Charter…that all elected Leaders maybe immune only for the act or words spoken inside their offices of official business and committed during their official function…Any other venue and for any other business they should be treated as equal…Well even our PM was sued by the Chief Election officer for exceeding his Campaign donation of the total amount of $1000…(the amount allowed is $1000 for Party convention, but the PM did not consider the cost of his ticket for the fundraising dinner as a donation because the Fund raising event lost, instead of raising fund..the Chief disagreed and sued the PM and the Judge ruled that it was a misunderstanding of the rule and the contribution of the PM will be applied for his next year contribution instead…no violation committed and the Chief Quit after 17 years of very good service…(and believe this , the PM will get a refund of $650 for that $1000 donation, like anyone else…)
at this early, vultures are trying to break the neck of a vulture for them to be able to dominate the still very far derby. demolition job here, demolition job there.
but take a a big look. who among them are really clean with integrity and honor untarnished?
they are all politicians, all modern day judases who sell others for a few pieces of dimes!
wolves hiding under sheep’s skin.
“Binay, in his Thursday speech, did not present proofs to dispute the allegations of corruption in the Makati City Hall Building II.”
Hindi pa kasi nari-Recto ang documents, di magandang pangitain!
Sige lang Sen. Trillanes, kahit may ambisyon ka sa mataas na pwesto, still you are doing the public good. Paano nga kung mapatunayan na si Binay pala ay “corrupt din ng corrupt”, borrowing Miriam’s joke. Maaga pa dapat mahalungkat na si Binay para ma-avoid sending another corrupt to the presidency.
Vic@#5
That is a tricky question.
On one side there are those who argue that following your suggestion would open officials to frivolous lawsuits and attending to their defense will distract or even prevent them from devoting their full attention to their duties and responsibilities.
On the other hand, others argue that the mantle of immunity is one reason for impunity.
Our constitution named certain officials – president, vice president, supreme court justices, and heads of constitutional commissions – as immune from lawsuits while in office.
Our procedure is to impeach first and then file cases after. (Investigation is allowed but the findings of such investigations can only recommend the filing of impeachment.)
The process we adopted is a compromise between the need to hold officials accountable and the need to avoid harrassment suits that will hinder said officials from performing their jobs.
In short, we erred, if it is an error, on the side of caution.
Only in the Philippines.
Sa ibang bansa kapag nabisto agad at kahit di pa nahahatulan ay nag re resign na agad. Tagalog na tawag ay “DELIKADESA”. Dito sa atin ay bistado na ay nag papalusot pa rin at kung ano ano ang ginagawa pag sisinungaling. Ang tawag naman ay “KAPIT TUKO” at “KAPAL MUKS”.
Only in the Philippines. Ang presidente ay pinatatangol agad ang mga kasamahan na hoodlum kesa mag sagawa ng makatotohanan na imbistigasyon lalo na sa HEPE ng pulisya natin. Tawag naman dito ay “MAY PINAG SAMAHAN KASAMAHAN”.
Hanep.
#10. kulturang pnoy ‘yan, eh. basta’t may butas kapag makakasingit, PASOK, kapag lumusot, AYOS!
meron bang nabibilang sa inner circle ni noynoy ang kanyang inilaglag sa gitna ng mga isyu KAHIT nariyan na ang mga ebidensiyang ipagpalagay na natin na bunga din lamang ng “masusing” paghahalukay ng mga kinauukulan na ang pinag-ugatan ay ‘yung kawalang ingat din ng nasasangkot na siyang nagiging dahilan upang ang itinatago ay sumambulat?
‘yan kasi ang hirap sa mga nakapuwesto ngayon mula kay noynoy, eh. ‘dami nilang sinasabing tapos pero sila rin ang kinakapos.
halimbawa na nga lamang ‘yang dalawang ‘yan nu’ng sila ay manumpa sa pagtupad ng tungkulin:
noynoy: kayo ang mga boss ko!
purisima: ‘yung may mga ginagawang kalokohan, UMALIS na kayo!
KAKAPAL ng mga mukha!
masagana na naman ang hapag ng mga buwaya!
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/09/27/1373824/house-approves-2015-budget-2nd-reading
Sumemplang na ang rating ni Binay, epektib si Trillanes! 🙂
Tama ka chi. Epektib talaga. Remember Manny Villar was a shoo-in for the presidency a year or two before the 2010 elections. All it took was for the Jamby Madrigal-Ping Lacson tag team to demolish his presidential ambition via the same tried and tested route – the senate investigations on corruption!
If you will remember, I think you first heard it from me in this blog that Binay extorted, er… exchanged, 2 penthouse units, one each in Luna and Hidalgo Towers of the Rockwell condos, aside from 2 Starex vans from Manny Lopez in exchange for a huge discount for the billion-or-so worth occupancy permits for the whole Rockwell Complex. Now, you can read it regularly in all anti-Binay threads in the net.
Trillanes, of course, knows it because his elder brother, Antonio II (is he called “Jay”, Ellen?) was part of the Engineering team on the owner’s side working as project managers. Now, Mrs. Binay even bought two more units there. This is where Ugly Nancy lives.
Binay’s camp must be soiling their pants when they read the latest survey results. They know this drop would mean donors to Binay’s 2016 war chest will start to dwindle into droplets until it’s totally dried up. Binay will have to dig deep into his dirty pockets to fund his own losing campaign…hopefully.
I felt sorry for Binay’s lady lawyer who held a presscon to explain Binay’s P60M Net worth. She had to faint in the middle of her presentation as she deprived her brain of all her oxygen by exhaling all that hot air.
The two Rockwell units alone cost P70+ Million. Much more than his declared SALN.
The latest salvo from Mercado also probably shocked the Binays much more because previously there was no face, no person they can pinpoint who could have acted as dummy for the Dark Vader. We now know these to be Gerry Limlingan, and the Chong Family, maybe there will be others more.
tongue, dun sa aplaya sa likod bahay namin ay meron big concrete vacation house, the first house built on shore in our town many years ago. May palaisdaan pa. Ang kilalang may ari ay si Mercado ex-VP ni Binay. Pero maliit ang halaga nito kumpara sa mga nabanggit mo sa itaas, kaya lang ay mas matagal naman di hamak na naitayo ang vacay house.
When Binay dropped Mercado as his mayoralty candidate, nagsimula ang away, ang sabi ay kay Binay daw yun talaga. Ewan kung ano ang totoo.
As to Cayetano’s fall…
“Pot calling the kettle black” is understandably negative to the electorate.
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Another point…
Binay’s fan base remains with him while a lot from Roxas deserted him.
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Expect more trial balloons in the events to come leading to 2016 Election Day.
‘Happy’ days, weeks, months, years to come…but I will be sad when Binay wins.
Nonetheless…
It’s more fun to survey in the Philippines.
More big properties acquired by Binay are coming out in the senate probe. Everyone knows Binay is corrupt. But the survey shows he is still popular as a presidential candidate but his popularity is going down so fast!!