Binay to attend Grand Parade “with or without invitation”

CEBU, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay will attend the Sinulog Grand Parade on Sunday, he confirmed with The Freeman yesterday.

“Hopefully, I can continue with my panata because this will be my third time, so with or without invitation, I will be around,” he said.

With the massive crowds during the Grand Parade, politicians are expected to flock Cebu City for exposure. The Commission on Elections said recently Cebu still has the most number of registered voters at 2.7 million.  

Binay was in Cebu yesterday to meet local members of the United Nationalist Coalition (UNA) in Camotes and Bantayan islands. He is the party’s chairman.

He also met with residents of Poro, Tudela and San Francisco towns in Camotes and Bantayan, Santa Fe, and Madridejos towns in Bantayan Island.

He thanked Cebuanos for the support.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga kababayan natin lalo na sa Cebu. Napapatunayan muli ang inyong pagtitiwala at pagdarasal para sa akin,” Binay said.

The vice president topped recent surveys of the Social Weather Station and Pulse Asia among those running for president.

“Ayaw maniwala ng mga kalaban ko sa pulitika na umaangat ako. Sabi nila bagsak ako at sila ang umaangat,” he added.

Yesterday, he surprised parishioners at the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City when he went there to hear Mass without prior announcement.

Before coming to Cebu, he was in Bohol also to meet local UNA members.  (FREEMAN)