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As Abby Binay vacates the Makati mayoral seat next year, her sister Senator Nancy Binay and husband Luis Campos will be up against each other to replace her
MANILA, Philippines – In what she called a decision that was years in the making, Makati Mayor Abby Binay formalized her bid for the Senate on Friday, October 4.
Binay is part of the longstanding dynasty that has held on to Makati for decades — with her serving as mayor and congresswoman over the maximum three terms for each post. This marks her first attempt at running for the Senate.
“It’s still for me nerve-wracking to run for a national position. I don’t know if I’m mentally ready to run for a position that is national because I prefer to be very private, but that’s not going to happen,” said Binay in a mix of English and Filipino.
Binay said that her father, former vice president Jejomar Binay, brought up the option for her to run for the Senate in 2010 and 2013, but she declined because she “valued [her] privacy.”
“I was not ready at that time. So that’s the reason why it took me several years to decide to say na, o sige na nga (okay fine,) let’s run for the Senate,” she said.
Binay’s priorities should she be elected senator include improving and expanding social programs, more resilient local governments, and strengthening the country’s capacity to adapt to climate change.
Family dynamics
Binay is now term-limited as Makati mayor after winning in 2016. Her sister, similarly term-limited Senator Nancy Binay, has filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) to replace her as mayor.
Nancy will be up against Abby’s husband, Luis Campos, who will file his COC on Saturday, October 5. Abby said the family has not discussed Nancy’s run against her husband.
“There’s no discussion. So we will let the people decide,” Abby said.
Abby said she would “rather not answer” a question asking her to describe the political rivalry involving her sister and husband in Makati.
“I am running for the Senate and I think we should let the candidates answer that question when it comes to the local politics in Makati,” she said.
Abby answered these questions with a straight face, in contrast to an emotional Nancy when she filed her own COC for Makati mayor on Tuesday, October 1. Nancy said she would support her younger sister as the latter runs for the first time as senator, according to an Inquirer.net report.
Support from EMBOs
Abby filing her COC for senator also sets aside an earlier option to run for Taguig mayor after, in a landmark decision, the Supreme Court ruled that disputed areas like Bonifacio Global City and adjacent Enlisted Men’s Barrio (EMBO) barangays, fell under the jurisdiction of Taguig and not Makati.
Binay said that she decided to drop the option since she would have run against an incumbent mayor with existing machinery, which would make it difficult for her to win the seat.
“Although I do have the solid support of those residents in EMBO [barangays],” she said.
Tensions still exist between the Binays and the Cayetanos, the ruling dynasty of their neighbor city Taguig. If Binay wins, she would be in the Senate with Pia Cayetano and Alan Peter Cayetano.
“I have no issue working with Senator Pia Cayetano,” said Binay.
Senators Nancy Binay and Alan Peter Cayetano recently had a heated exchange over the funding of the new Senate building in Taguig. – Rappler.com
