MANILA, Philippines — Makati City Mayor Abigail "Abby" Binay-Campos has destroyed the Binay brand of public service in the city, her younger brother Jejomar "Junjun" Binay Jr. said Friday.
Junjun is ready to run against his older sister and as Makati City mayor in the 2019 elections.
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Speaking to reporters, Junjun said his older sister has never denied that she is not used to approaching people, which has been the brand of their father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Junjun Binay mirrors Nancy's remarks about the "Binay vs Binay" issue, but made it clear that he is not about to give way to his sister Abby over the mayoralty of Makati. #BilangPilipino2019 | @shecrisostomo pic.twitter.com/orATdu1YWW
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) October 12, 2018
"It becomes difficult to navigate because there is clamor and then we have Abby there. My sister will not back out so we have to talk first," Junjun told reporters.
He added that 13 councilors "bolted away" from Abby when she took over as Makati mayor in 2016. This started the clamor from Makati residents because they "miss the Binay style of governance."
The youngest Binay accompanied his eldest sister Nancy, who filed her certificate of candidacy for senator.
Junjun admitted that he last spoke to Abby in July as his sister do not go to Sunday family gatherings.
Abby, on the other hand, said that she has the support of their father, who is running for Congress in the 2019 elections.
Junjun said they would have to wait for their father to return this weekend to discuss the feud between him and his sister.
The Commission on Elections said Junjun can still run for office since there is no final conviction yet on pending cases against him.
"But if there’s any appeal, or if it’s not a final decision, then it won’t fit the criteria for disqualification," Comelec spokesperon James Jimenez said told ANC's Headstart.
The Binay father and son are facing charges over the alleged anomalous P2.2-billion Makati City Hall building 2 project. Earlier this year, the Court of Appeals has reversed the Office of the Ombudsman's dismissal of Junjun in October 2015. — Patricia Lourdes Viray