By Jc Bello Ruiz
Manila Bulletin
Manila Bulletin
Will it be a reversal of roles in 2016 for Vice President Jejomar C. Binay and former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada?
Last Thursday while in Kidapawan City in North Cotabato, Binay revealed that Estrada is listed among those being considered as probable running mates in the 2016 presidential elections.
“Pinag-aaralan po silang lahat (I am considering everyone of them),” said the leading contender in the 2016 presidential race based on recent surveys.
Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, the Vice President’s spokesman for political concerns, said “everyone is being considered” as Binay’s running mate.
“Everyone is being considered. As long as they are in consonance with the values of governance of the Vice President, namely: housing for the poor; affordable healthcare; educational advancement; and creating job opportunities for all Filipinos,” Remulla said.
It was recalled that in the 2010 presidential elections it was Binay who served as Erap’s running mate.
MASS APPEAL
Their mass appeal brought relative success to their tandem in 2010.
Erap, although convicted of plunder and later pardoned, placed second to then “sentimental favorite” Senator Benigno S. Aquino III, while Binay survived a close fight with early favorite, then Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
In last year’s elections, Binay and Estrada continued with their partnership, forging a coalition called the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
The coalition between Binay’s former party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), and Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) fielded a senatorial slate that challenged the candidates of the ruling Liberal Party (LP).
Erap, who made a rousing comeback as mayor of the City Manila in the 2013 elections, will already be 79 by May, 2016, while Binay will be 73 by then.
But Remulla said age is not a problem.
“It’s not a question of age but of capacity,” he said.
NO BINAY VS ERAP
In an interview with ABS-CBN last July, Binay said he cannot imagine going up against Erap in an election.
“Alam mo hindi ko maisip yun (You know, I cannot think of that possibility),” Binay said then.
He was asked if he thinks there would come a time he and Erap would become poll opponents.
“Hindi naman siguro (I don’t think that could happen),” he added in between laughs.
Estrada had said that he would only run for president in 2016 if Binay becomes the administration candidate.
Binay, however, disagreed that he may end up becoming the administration’s bet in the 2016 presidential elections, saying he will never abandon the opposition.
It should be the other way around, Binay said.
He even broached the idea of a coalition being formed between the LP and the opposition for 2016, noting that “nothing is impossible in the world of politics.”
JINGGOY ALSO
Estrada’s son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who is currently detained on plunder and graft charges over the P10-billion pork barrel scam, is still among those rumored to be Binay’s running mate in 2016.
Binay, who is currently facing corruption allegations, said that he is not picking a running mate yet so as not to create enemies this early.
He had earlier indicated his desire to have a “successful businessman” as his partner in running the country.
As a former long-time mayor of Makati City, he said that he had learned that “no revenue” translates to “no project.”
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