Binay siblings win in Makati anew

MANILA, Philippines - Re-electionists Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay and his sister, district two Rep. Mar-Len Abigail Binay-Campos, won another term yesterday.

Binay was proclaimed winner yesterday, with 224,740 votes over his opponent, former barangay captain Renato Bondal of the Nacionalista Party, who got 27,505 votes.

In district one, Rep. Monique Yasmin Lagdameo of Team Binay-United Nationalist Alliance was also proclaimed the winner.  Lagdameo got 92,348 votes while Campos got 117,066 votes.

Also re-elected to serve another term is Vice Mayor Romulo Peña, who got 129,499 votes over former city administrator and Binay ally Marjorie de Veyra who got  122,956 votes. De Veyra is Binay’s running mate while Peña, who ran under the Liberal Party’s banner, is Bondal’s.

The votes were from 479 clustered precincts. Of the city’s 399,726 registered voters, 249,789 voted in Monday’s elections. 

Binay earlier expressed confidence that his Team Binay will sweep the polls and declare victory. His father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, attended his proclamation.

Talking to reporters shortly after casting his vote at the San Antonio National High School on Monday morning, Binay said although his team did not run unopposed, he described his opponents as “weak.”

“In this election, we are not unopposed but our opponents are weak. We are confident,” he told reporters earlier. All of Team Binay’s candidates, except for De Veyra, won.

Binay promised to focus on social projects for the city as he starts his second term as mayor. “More infrastructure projects, social projects and quality education. We will continue with what we have started in 2010,” he said.

Among those who won seats in the city council are actor Monsour del Rosario, Marie Alethea Casal-Uy, Ferdinand Eusebio, Virgilio Hilario, Arnold Magpantay, Romeo Medina, Tosca Camille Ramos, and Ma. Concepcion Yabut in district one and Israel Cruzado, Ma. Theresa De Lara, Henry Jacome, Leonardo Magpantay, Nelson Pasia, Vincent Sese, Mary Ruth Tolentino, and Nemesio Yabut Jr. in district two. 

Fiscalizer

Peña, Binay’s toughest critic, said he will act as the fiscalizer at the Makati city hall. He said his victory is proof that not all voters in Makati believe in the rule of one party or one family.

“I do not believe that only one party or one family should lead. I believe that everyone should be given a chance to serve,” he said.