Binay: It’s been Mar-Leni all this time

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay believes that the selection of Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo as the running mate of Manuel Roxas II had been decided at least a week before the Liberal Party (LP)’s official announcement yesterday.

“It was just drama,” Binay told The STAR yesterday, referring to the supposed move of LP leaders, including President Aquino and Roxas, to convince the widow of former interior secretary Jesse Robredo to run for vice president.

The LP would have immediately stopped the wooing of Robredo if there were no indication that she was willing to run for the nation’s second highest office.

Robredo had earlier said she was not inclined to seek the vice presidency.

However, various sectors initiated a campaign to urge her to join Roxas in the LP ticket.

Among them were presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, who joined the #JumpWithLeni social media campaign aimed at urging Robredo to join next year’s political fray.

Binay refused to comment when asked about the capability of Robredo to hold the post of vice president.

He also declined to answer when asked if he thinks the LP pressured Robredo to be the running mate of Roxas.

The announcement of Robredo’s selection coincided with an exclusive STAR report yesterday that UNA has decided to field Sen. Gregorio Honasan as Binay’s running mate.

 Erap: Good combination

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada believes that the presidential and vice presidential tandem of Roxas and Robredo is a good combination.

Robredo has more experience in government service compared to Sen. Grace Poe, Estrada’s goddaughter who is running for president, the mayor told reporters at city hall.

“That is a good combination,” he said. “Mar and Leni are both good elected officials. Leni’s husband, the late interior secretary Jesse Robredo, had been an elected official of Bicol for so many decades. Leni would have been adept in public service, being on the sidelines of her husband.”

Another asset of Robredo is her being a lawyer, Estrada said.

“As a lawyer, I think she could help Roxas, should they win in the 2016 elections, in the Cabinet,” he said.

“She can serve as justice secretary because she was a lawyer of PAO (Public Attorney’s Office) before she became congresswoman.” 

Both Roxas and Robredo have high integrity, Estrada said.

‘Robredo has edge’

Robredo has an edge in the vice presidential race over Sen. Francis  Escudero, a Bicolano like her, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said yesterday.

“Robredo can win over Escudero because he does not control the political machinery in Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur,” he said.

“Although Sorsogon is Escudero’s bailiwick, he has no control over Masbate and Catanduanes.”

Robredo has a trump card over Escudero since “it’s not good for a Bicolano to fight another Bicolano unless it involves game-changing,” Salceda said.

“Definitely, Bicolanos will vote for another Bicolano and non-Bicolano candidates can only mitigate the impact.”

Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya believes the Nationalist People’s Coalition is going to support the tandem of Poe and Escudero.

Robredo’s constraint is that “she will leave a power vacuum on the ground where Roxas  needs her most” Salceda said.

Meanwhile, Bicolano vice-presidential candidates Escudero and Antonio Trillanes IV agree that Robredo is “highly qualified” to be a candidate for vice-president.

“Rep. Leni Robredo is qualified and has every right to offer herself for higher office,” said Escudero. – Janvic Mateo, Jose Rodel Clapano, Christina Mendez, Celso Amo