Binay willing to tap Jinggoy as VP in 2016 polls

MANILA, Philippines - Vice-President Jejomar Binay is open to the idea to have Sen. Jinggoy Estrada as a running-mate in the 2016 elections, the vice president’s daughter,  Sen  Nancy Binay said on Tuesday.

Sen. Binay   said the Binay camp is willing to   join the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino after Estrada offered the vice president to lead the political party. 

“That is another option.  There are many suggestions at this point. I think my father will study all of these (options) when it comes to his political party,” she said.

Sen. Binay added that her father is mulling over  the creation of a new political party or to resurrect the Laban party, which was part of the coalition formed by the vice president with former Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. who led the PDP  during the martial law.

When VP Binay announced that he is bolting out of the PDP-Laban, Sen. Binay said her father was keen to form  a new party by June 12, which coincides with the celebration of Independence Day.  

Sen. Binay likened the vice-president’s decision to a decision of a married couple to go separate ways.  “I guess parang sa mag-asawa ay kailangan niyang magpa-annul, nagkaroon ng psychological incapacity somewhere,” she said.

On  tapping Estrada as a possible runningmate, Sen. Binay says "yes, everybody is a good option,”  she said.

Estrada has said he would not hesitate to give VP Binay  the PMP presidency if necessary.

“I guess Sen. Jinggoy has the edge because he has been a senator even before 2010 when we were together at the Senate. (The ties) date back when (his father) Mayor Erap was still mayor up until he became president, and then when FPJ ran for office,” Sen. Binay said.  FPJ is the late actor Fernando Poe Jr, who ran but lost to former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 2004 elections.

The senator also added that Sen. Estrada is a graduate of the UP School of Economics, which would suit VP Binay's requirement as the latter indicated that he would want an economist as a running-mate in 2016.