Network of campaigners launch efforts for nat’l promo of Binay’s work in Makati

Supporters of presidential aspirant Jejomar Binay on Saturday formally introduced their network that will promote nationally the mayor’s brand of “responsive” and “God-fearing” governance that made Makati City progressive.

To stress Binay’s fitness for the highest post in the land, the group pointed out that the presidency is an executive position, very much like Binay’s current work as mayor. He therefore has an advantage over his rivals who are mostly senators and are therefore into lawmaking.

“It’s true that senators have national constituency, but it (their position) is far from [exercising] executive power,” Makati councilor Armand Padilla said. Senators make laws, he said; Binay “runs a bureaucracy.”

“The president’s job is basically what a local official does,” Binay’s chief of staff Benjie Martinez said.

Binay’s record
Binay’s supporters boast that Makati became the wealthiest city in the country in the last 6 years. Advancements in infrastructure, education system, and security benefits for the elders are some of what supporters are considering as Binay’s contribution to the city.

Binay’s TV advertisements follow this promotional line: “Ganito kami sa Makati. Ganito rin sana sa buong bayan (This is how we are in Makati. We hope the country will follow suit).”

Binay has been Makati mayor since 1986, the first OIC local executive appointed by then newly installed President Corazon Aquino. He only left the office for three years, from 1998 to 2001, to comply with the constitutional term limits. During that one-term break, Makati was governed by Binay’s wife Elenita.

During his long stay as Makati mayor, Binay was also reported to have acquired assets worth tens of millions of pesos that one cannot possibly acquire with a mayor’s salary. Government audit over the years has consistently found misuse of funds and unaccounted disbursements during his term.

No luck
Binay’s supporters said that the list of presidential aspirants for the 2010 is dominated by members of the Senate, among them Manuel Villar, Francis Escudero, Manuel Roxas II, and Loren Legarda.

But, campaign manager Ernie Hernandez said, the country didn’t seem to have luck with senators-turned-president. He mentioned as examples Ferdinand Marcos and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who supposedly didn’t perform well as presidents.

He didn’t mention Joseph Estrada, who was senator for a long time before he became vice president and then president, only to be ousted mid-term for abuse of power and corruption. Binay is allied with Estrada.

“Hindi ba parang malas ang Pilipinas pag galing sa Senado ang nakaupo? (Doesn’t the Philippines have back luck with presidents who come from the Senate?)” Hernandez said.

Brods and boyscouts

• There are 4 core groups in Binay’s network of supporters. These are:
• BRODSS (Band of Brothers and Sisters in Service), composed of members of the Alpha Phi Omega, Binay’s college fraternity. They have 200,000 enlisted members, according to Hernandez.
• JOJO, which is composed of the almost 69,000 council leaders of the Boy Scout of the Philippines, of which Binay is President.
• PDP-LABAN, Binay's political party, which has 80,000 members.
• MAKATInet, a coalition of various volunteer groups in Makati, including senior citizens and some students.

Of the presidential aspirants, the only other former mayor is Bayani Fernando of Marikina who is now chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

In 1998, another mayor, Alfredo Lim of Manila, ran for president. Although supported by the supposed “magic” of former President Corazon Aquino, Lim landed fifth in an 11-way contest.

Martinez said Binay’s candidacy will have a different outcome from Lim’s. “That’s why we present the Makati experience.”

According to the latest survey on top choices for president, Binay stays low with only 4%, while aspirants from the Senate dominate the survey with two-digit ratings.

Binay’s supporters remain optimistic, though. Hernandez said that Binay’s ratings have been consistently increasing. He started with a low 0.3% in 2007, and 1% early this year. (Newsbreak)