Introduction

How can an aspiring president whose aim is to hinder poverty by promoting anticorruption was bound in recent accusations about corruption? Just before former Vice President
and Mayor of Makati Jejomar Binay filed his candidacy, his recent allegations about corruption
had been the headlines of the news in the Philippines. He got suspended for six months because
of spending 5 billion pesos in 10 years for janitorial and security services of the overpriced
Makati City Hall Building II. He was also accused of owning a 350-hectare property in Rosario,
Batangas and several condominiums in Makati. Knowing the fact that he is one of the highest
government official and therefore should be concerned for the prosperity of the country, his bank
accounts were being examined to prove the accusations against him and to track the hidden
wealth of his family. Despite all of that, Binays candidacy was slightly affected. He lost his
image as an ideal president, but not the confidence to run for presidential elections. On October
12, 2015, at 8 oclock in the morning, he filed his candidacy. He still got a lot of supporters and
still managed to maintain his good image of a law abiding citizen which increases his possibility
of winning the presidential elections. Whether or not the voters in this coming 2016 elections
were aware of his corruption, his tactics and mechanism to engage in patronage politics by using
the ability to impress and by showing that he will meet the needs of the people can still make the
Filipino voters fall for his lies and vote for him in the 2016 presidential elections.
Patronage in Philippine politics
An underlying portrait of Philippine politics as a largely transactional, nonideological
affair in which control over resources ( material or coercive) is the key to harvesting the votes
of the peasants or the urban poor (Diamond, Plattner, Chu,2013 ). Elections serve as a major
source of political recruitment, a means of making government power, a guarantee of
representation, and a major determinant of government policy (Teehankee, 2015). The pressures
from rural-based elites, the importance of patronage politics, and the relative weakness of the
executive help explain the Philippine politics. Politicians are well known for their common
platforms of nation-building during elections and state-building after being elected to their
desired positions. To appeal to the people and to keep their electoral integrity, they use different
tactics like promising economic growth and betterment of the lives of the people. These instances
to which the politicians convince and persuade the people to vote for them by giving what the
1

people want was widely celebrated in Philippine politics. Known as patronage politics, Filipino
voters often fall for it.
In particular, the demand for and susceptibility to vote-buying and other forms of
clientilism is fueled by poverty Thus, widespread poverty due to low economic development
may partly explain the prevalence and persistence of clientilism in the Philippines (Young,
2015). Traditionally, Philippine political parties have relied on patron-client networks to
mobilize the rural poor, and then only for elections (Riedinger,1995).Over the years, this
condition has fostered a culture of political patronage, which breeds and thrives on the insecurity
and helplessness of the poor. The deeper the poverty, the greater the dependency, the more secure
the hold over power (Malena, 2009). This patron-client relationship makes the powerful take
advantage of the weak to get what they want. Vote buying, building different infrastructures and
projects that are not even necessary, popularity and entrepreneurship are the examples of
patronage politics.
As a result, twenty years after the first people power movement in 1986, the Philippines
remains mired in this vicious cycle of cacique politics, where the political fiefdoms rule. This
dominant characteristic of elite politics perpetuates patronage politics and has been a bane in the
Philippines attempts at consolidating its democracy (Severino and Salazar, 2007). Democracy
during elections reached the point where the voters mind is focused on the valued benefits that
they would get and not on the real purpose of democracy. The rights of the people to vote was
then wasted, they vote to receive their own needs and to satisfy the patrons selfish desires, not
voting to achieve the ideal country that they are looking for. As a result, people do not rely on the
capacity of the politician to lead the country, but they depend on the gifts or benefits that they
would get from the politician. Both the politician and the client get what they want from each
other. As these politicians, together with their families, clans and political parties become more
powerful and stable, the people living in the country will be more prone to poverty and misery.
Thus, they are not the one who suffer the consequences, but the country and its people. Once the
politicians got their political desires, those who had fallen in their trap would remain in their side
as long as they serve as the clients provider toward the end of their political journey. As they
continue to improve themselves, they continue to hinder the development of the country. This

cycle of patronage politics lessen the publics faith in democracy and economic improvement
( Malena, 2009; Severino and Salazar, 2007; You, 2015 )
In short, elites turned increasingly from clientelist loyalties to patronage machines in
order regenerate constituencies and shore up their statuses. Elections were now, in the Philippine
refrain, through guns, goons, and gold (Case, 2002). Holding together the factions and
alliances are kinship, personal ties, exchange of goods and services, and political machines. At
election time, patronage is typically exchanged for votes..This instability contributes to, and is
a reflection of, constant manipulation both of the people by political elites, primarily through
patronage, and of competing politicians by voters (Kerkvliet, 1990).

Presidents who used Patronage Politics in the Philippines

The Philippines movie star president may have been deposed in January 2001, but the
appearance of Joseph Estrada, more fondly known as, Erap on the political stage led to a flood
of celebrities looking to get their share of the electoral limelight (Wooder, 2008). Running after
the slogan Erap para sa mahirap (Erap for the poor), he won a convincing victory in the 1998
presidential elections based primarily on his appeal to low-income voters. Political analysts have
noted that much of Estradas appeal lies in his populist image and his personal approach to
politics, particularly his willingness to visit low-income areas and speak with the poor in their
own language Thus, through a combination of a skillful use of the mass media and a keen
understanding of patronage politics, Estrada was able to develop a formidable political base
(Shatkin, 2007).
Erap was removed from the presidency in January 2001; three months later, he was in
jail accused of non-biable crime of plunder. For the next six and half years, he was incarcerated,
first in a special cell in a hospital, later in his own well appointed villa (Mizuno and
Phongpaichit, 2009).
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, known for her corrupt allegations was known to use
patronage politics in his pre-electoral campaigns.Arroyo campaigned vigorously throughout the
country, speaking the local language in her native Visayas and several other regions, reminding
voters of the avalanche of financial support and development project. She used electoral
3

politics as a strategies during her electoral campaignIn July 2004, State of the Nation budget
deficit and tax collection the most pressing problems facing the nation. She called for business to
adopt an attitude of tax acceptance and Congress to pass a package of tax laws to increase
revenue by eighty billion pesos per year. To reduce spending, she promised to abolish thirty
agencies under the Office of the President (in addition to the eighty already eliminated), attack
corruption, eliminate redundant officers, and encourage early retirement. ( Abinales and
Amaroso, 2005). Under the Philippines patronage-based politics, Arroyo took advantage of the
weak political party system and the strong presidency to gain and maintain control of Congress
and most local governments and to engage in what may regard as plunder. (Fung and Drakeley,
2014).

It turns out that the so-called governance projects using the funds of the state was not
allotted to it or to other projects. Glorias promises was not achieved as it turned out the other
way around.
Binays engagement in Patronage Politics
In this 2016 Presidential Elections, people will once again witness the different tactics or
strategies of each presidential candidates. One of the most celebrated candidates, Jejomar Binay,
was well known for his tactics in politics. He won the elections before as Mayor of Makati by
providing more direct payoffs to voters by supplying potential supporters with food, money,
free medical care, scholarships, discounted funerals, and the like (Schaffer, 2008) and
developed strong populist credentials with innovative welfare programs for the poor in his city
(Diamond, Plattner and Chu, 2013).
Jejomar Binays mechanism to engage in patronage politics was evident. He plays the
poor vs. rich card to the hilt by saying that he was an orphan, and equates that with poverty
(Monsod , 2014). He also stated in his speech during the Independence Day on June 12 2015 that
better roads and public transport, food and energy security, well-equipped schools and hospitals,
and decent jobs for the people these are all possible if, like our ancestors, we work hand in
hand to achieve our shared dreams. In his speech, he showed his capability if he was the one
elected in positon. But, before he was a candidate for presidency, he was the Vice President of
4

the country. He said the same thing as before ,but it turns out that he was celebrated for his
corrupt allegations.

Despite all of this, Binay cannot ignore the fact that a corrupt government contributes to
the national problem of poverty as stated by Malacanang. He defended himself by saying that
The moral problem actually is not corruption, the moral problem is poverty. That is what I have
to face, not a fight against all these allegations but to alleviate poverty in the life of every
Filipino. Again, he is playing his tactics to reverse the peoples mind into thinking that he is the
one on the right path for the betterment of the lives of every Filipino.

Other than that, Jejomar Binay visited different cities in the Philippines to clear his name
and to use patronage politics to convince a certain group of people vote for him. According to
CNN News, he said he was optimistic that he would do better in Cebu in the 2016 Presidential
electionswith the help of course, of some members of his United Nationalist Alliance member,
namely Cebu Rep. Gwen Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama. On 18th of July 2015,
Corrales said that Binay was in Victorias Town in Negros Occidental on Friday as part to be a
campaign sortie. He was confident that he would win the Presidential elections despite his
corrupt allegations. He also went in Maguindanao to grace the 68th founding anniversary of
Sultan Kudarat Town and lashed at his critics in his speech while at Sultan Kudarat, boasting of
his accomplishments while yet mayor of Makati (Unson, 2015). On the same day, Binay said
Tanggapin ang pera, ilagay sa bulsa, at bumoto sa kursonada and huwag kayong boboto dahil
sa kayo ay binigyan ng pera. Pero tanggapin ho ninyo. It was clear that Binay want to
emphasize that he is a making good deed or favor to the voters, but not to make them vote for
him because of money. Because of this good deed, voters fall to his words and therefore fall to
his lies.

A survey conducted on June 2015, showed him leading at 28 percent, with Sen. Grace
Poe closely trailing at 24 percent. Mayors Joseph Estrada and Ronald Duterte are tied at 10
percent while Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II,
5

presumptive Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer, are in fourth spot with eight percent each. Binay,
pegged by a Pulse Asia survey as the top choice of Filipino voters for the 2016 presidency, said
in August that he was open to UNA joining forces with the ruling Liberal Party. A survey was
conducted from Oct 18 to 29, 2015. The poll was conducted after filing of the certificates of
candidacy last Oct. 12 to 16. Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance
was in second place with 24 percent, up from 19 percent (Flores, 2015). Thus, there is a chance
that he would win the 2016 Presidential elections.

Filipino voters turned blind-eye to the recent corrupt allegations of Jejomar Binay. The
question, How would a country prosper if the leader of the country is into corruption? was not
asked. Though he is anti-poverty as he said to his platforms and speeches, his main goal is to
continue his legacy of corruption. Whether or not he is considered one of the leaders who made
an economic rise to Makati, still, the prosperity of a country lies on the real aim of the leader and
not for his own political desires.
Summary
Government controls the economy. They control the people. By using patronage politics,
whether or not voters are part of the patron-client relationship, it is quite evident that a better
government was all the Filipinos needed. A government that could provide all their needs and
necessities in life. Politics is cyclic. Politics is entrepreneurship. They offer voters what they
needed that sometimes they got blinded by it. This cycle of patronage politics that was
considered a form of corruption, continues to prevail in this 2016 Presidential Elections. And if
Binay would win this 2016 presidential elections by making people believe from all his lies
through the use of patronage politics, then the economic development of the country would still
remain vague.

SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao (MindaNews / 19 Aug) Vice President Jejomar Binay said peoples money will be
poured in the coming national and local elections to ensure victory of administration candidates.
Babaha ang pera sa araw ng halalan na ipamumodmod sa mga botante at manggagaling ito mismo sa kaban ng
bayan (Money will be used for the voters and it will come from peoples money), Binay told officials and residents of
Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao where he was guest of honor and speaker during the municipalitys 68th
foundation anniversary on Tuesday (18 Aug).
Without naming names, Binay was obviously referring to the Aquino administration which has access over
government funds.
Accept the money, he told voters. That is your money, then vote according to your conscience, Binay added.
Binay, who has already declared his candidacy for the 2016 presidential elections, also hit the administrations dirty
tactics of filing corruption charges against those who opposed the current administration.
What we need are experienced leaders, not neophytes who lack the needed expertise in running the affairs of the
government, not palpak governance, he added.
While in town, Binay also administered the oath-taking of new members of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and
established the UNA-Maguindanao provincial chapter.
He was told that former Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dialangalen of LAKAS-CMD party has allied with the UNA party
in Maguindanao.
Also present during Binays visit were Maguindanao political leaders like Mamasapano Mayor Benzar Ampatuan,
Talayan Mayor Ali Midtimbang and former Sultan Kudarat Mayor Tucao Mastura.
Accompanying Binay were Philippine Councilor League chair Alma Moreno and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, who
both declared their respective senatorial bids.

http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2015/08/19/binay-hits-aquino-govt-to-use-peoplesfunds-in-2016/

Binay hits Aquino govt to use peoples funds in

2016
ByFerdinandh B. Cabreraon August 19 2015 4:02 pm

Read morehttp://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2015/08/19/binay-hits-aquino-govt-to-use-peoples-funds-in-2016/

Home News National Binay camp says CCT rumor intended to hurt his presidential bid

Binay camp says CCT rumor intended to hurt

his presidential bid
by Ellson Quismorio
November 6, 2015
Share 5 Tweet17 Share0 Email0 38
Share

Vice President Jejomar Binays camp claimed on Friday that the rumor about his alleged plan to cease
aid for beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) is a nationwide effort to hurt his presidential
bid.
We have been receiving reports that in Leyte, rumors are being spread that the Vice President will not
continue the CCT program, lawyer Rico Quicho, the Vice Presidents spokesperson for political
concerns, said.
This is not the first time we have heard of this. In Bicol, Western Visayas, and Central Mindanao, we
have received reports of organized rumor brigades targeting CCT beneficiaries, Quicho said.
The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard-bearer was in Leyte most of the week attending sorties
ahead of the 2016 presidential race.
The Vice President has repeatedly denied halting cash aid for indigents, saying that the rumors are just
meant to hurt his Palace bid.
Again, we wish to reiterate that the Vice President will continue the CCT, but with improvements,
Quicho underscored.
The CCT is currently referred to under the Aquino administration as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino
Program or 4Ps.
These rumors have been recurrent. We have received similar reports in the other places the Vice
President has visited, which reinforces our belief that this is a sustained drive to again smear the Vice
Presidents name, said Quicho.
Such dirty tactics cast doubt on the statements of others that they will ensure clean elections, added
the lawyer.
Binay has vowed to improve the CCT system to prevent several instances of non-payment and
underpayment of beneficiaries, as well as the reported double entries and inaccuracies in the
beneficiaries list.
Binay also said that he would make 4Ps available to those who truly need it, and prevent its use as a
tool for politicking.

Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/binay-camp-says-cct-rumor-intended-to-hurt-his-presidentialbid/#RtYV6f6YjoPyAhbR.99

MANILA BULLETIN ^^^^

November 25, 2015 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

Top
Stock
Hom
Financ Corporat Econom Natio
Worl Arts & Sport Opinio
Storie
Marke
e
e
e
y
n
d
Leisure s
n
s
t
Weekender High Life

BW
Online
University Exclusive

Throwbac
Video
k

Slidesho Infographi Code

RSS
w
cs
x

Downloads

Opinion

Posted on June 30, 2015 09:07:00 PM

Shelf life of Binays avoidance tactic

123

44

Google +5

At a recent public event, when a TV reporter asked

presidential candidate Jojo Binay if he could get an
interview regarding the whereabouts of Gerry
Limlingan and Ebeng Baloloy, Binays known close
confidants and alleged bagmen for billions in
cash, the candidate responded by saying that he
does not bother with such petty matters.
Besides, as his spokesmen and he himself have
said, he has not spoken to or seen these people.
When I asked a lawyer colleague of Binays why he
is talking such nonsense, the friend explained that
Binay was campaigning; that he was talking to his
fans, and not to people like us, the intelligentsia.

Grassroots &
Governance
Teresa S.
Abesamis

Perhaps his people have not noticed that Binays survey numbers among
the majority D (working class) voters have gone down, which explains
why he has lost the lead in the presidential surveys. It sure looks like he is
losing some fans. Perhaps he is underestimating the working class. How
long does he think he can keep up these dismissals of petty matters?
After all, his latest addition to his phalanx of spokespersons just said that in
his program of government as President, Binay will observe the rule of
law. In his press conference following his resignation, Binay read his
statement, but left right after, I
RELATED STORIES
suppose to avoid questions. When Pope
Francis in a speech during his visit to
our country referred to the evils of graft
and corruption, the Vice-President, who
sat in front, turned his face to the right,
Grassroots & Governance -perhaps to avoid eye-to-eye contact
Teresa S. Abesamis: "Can the
with the Pope?
Supreme Court overrule
legislation to clip powers of the
When the Ombudsman first issued an
order for the Department of the Interior Ombudsman?"
and Local Government (DILG) to
suspend his son Binay, Jr. as mayor of
Makati, based on evidence indicating
probable cause for charges of graft and
corruption, the Binays filed a motion for
a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO)
with the Court of Appeals, which almost
instantly they mysteriously obtained.
That was for the Makati Parking
Building case.

Grassroots & Governance -Teresa S. Abesamis:"Getting at

the root of thelumad tragedies"

Grassroots & Governance -Teresa S. Abesamis:"Jogging our

short memories about
Proclamation 1081"

Now, the Ombudsman has issued a

second suspension order on the Makati
mayor, and again he refused to accept
the DILGs formal suspension order. The
Grassroots & Governance -Vice-President (and former mayor of
Teresa S. Abesamis: "Are we
Makati) is among the respondents in
ready for Leni Robredo?"
the second case. Binay, Jr., the current
mayor, is barricading himself in the
Binays de facto kingdom, Makati City
Grassroots & Governance -Hall. Now, again, the Binays are
Teresa S. Abesamis: "WHAT
running to the Court of Appeals. The
pending case before the Supreme Court METRO MANILA CAN LEARN
FROM METRO CEBU"
filed by the Ombudsman to invalidate
the Court of Appeals TRO on the first
suspension order should be resolved
soon. This decision will have
tremendous consequences on jurisprudence in this country.

The Ombudsmans authority to suspend is guaranteed by specific provisions

in the Constitution and in the law. Section 12 of the 1987 Constitution
describes the Ombudsman and his deputies as protectors of the people.
The bases of the Ombudsmans power to order the DILG to suspend Mayor
Binay are found in Section 21, 22 and 24 of Republic Act 6770. It has the

10

disciplinary authority over all elective and appointive officials of the

Government and its subdivisions, instrumentalities and agencies, including
Members of the Cabinet, local government, government-owned or
-controlled corporations and their subsidiaries, except over officials who
may be removed only by impeachment or over Members of Congress, and
the Judiciary.
It can also investigate any serious misconduct in office allegedly
committed by officials removable by impeachment, for the purpose of filing
a verified complaint for impeachment, if warranted.
It can preventively suspend any officer or employee under his authority
pending an investigation, if in his judgment the evidence of guilt is
strong...
The plea from the Ombudsman is truly a landmark test on the Supreme
Courts standing as the court of last resort. It provides an opportunity for
the Supreme Court to redeem itself of its tarnished reputation, following the
impeachment of Gloria Arroyos midnight appointee, the discredited Renato
Corona. The Court of Appeals has a long way to go to reach credibility. We
await the Supreme Courts resolution of the Ombudsmans plea with bated
breath. This decision by the third branch of our government is as crucial, to
my mind, as the coming presidential elections. It will help determine if we
are on our way to the global circle of civilized democracies; or are still
languishing as a parody.
To the knowledgeable observant, it is obvious that Jojo Binay is constantly
addressing his fans through the media. He is not responding to the legally
constituted fora (Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, Ombudsman,
Sandiganbayan). Or he lets his many spokesmen do the talking. Why cant
he face these fora?
There are 11 months to go before the presidential elections of 2016. How
long can presidential candidate Binay continue with his charades and media
posturing, with speaking through both sides of his mouth, as the editorial
of a daily paper has described it?
He must confront his accusers face to face, and tell the truth, eye to eye.
Perhaps he has begun to believe his own stories. That is pathetic. He is
spending so much on the media for his one-way communications
responses. He cannot continue to do this for almost a year. He must
examine his options. He will have to confront the accusations in the courts
of law. He must refute the documentary and testimonial evidences, which
have been presented to and accepted by the respected Ombudsman,
Conchita Carpio-Morales, a non-politician. To use his own words, Mr. VicePresident, Magpakalalaki ka! (Man up!) Or should we say, Magpakababae
ka! (Woman up!)
Teresa S. Abesamis is a former professor at the Asian Institute of
Management and an independent development management consultant.

11

Palace counters Binay: Kung walang

corrupt, walang mahirap
(philstar.com) | Updated October 28, 2015 - 3:38pm
3

372 googleplus0

Vice President Jejomar Binay, one of the top four contenders in next year's presidential elections, talks about
his economic platform during a dialogue with the country's business sector Tuesday, Oct.27, 2015. Most of the
candidates are one in saying for the need for tax reforms which according to them is one of the highest in
Asia. AP/Bullit Marquez
MANILA, Philippines - Malacaang on Wednesday responded to Vice President Jejomar Binay's statement that
the country's moral problem is poverty and not corruption.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the two problems besetting the nation are related and
should be both addressed.
"Tunay na magkaugnay at hindi dapat paghiwalayin ang paglaban sa korapsyon at sa pagpawi ng kahirapan,"
Coloma said in a text message to reporters.
"Itinataguyod ang Daang Matuwid at mabuting pamamahala ayon sa batayang prinsipyo: Kung walang corrupt,
walang mahirap," he added.

12

During a forum with three other presidential candidates on Tuesday, Binay said his administration will fight
poverty, not corruption should he be elected president in May 2016.
Binay is facing plunder and graft complaints before the Ombudsman in connection with allegedly overpriced
infrastructure projects in Makati during his stint as mayor.

Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

"The moral problem is not corruption, the moral problem is poverty. That is what I want to face, not the fight
against all these allegations, but the fight to alleviate the life of every Filipino," Binay said.
In a separate forum also on Tuesday, President Aquino touted the achievements of his administration's anticorruption campaign.
Aquino said under his watch, several organizations and individuals who were considered sacrosanct had been
made accountable for their actions.
He said these people include former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who
remains under hospital arrest for a plunder case on the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes
Office funds.
"There are the various, shall we say, very influential players in Philippine society, the interplay of the same. The
political will was exercised to achieve the common good at the risk of having all of these factors cease to be
cooperative and be disruptive," Aquino told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.
"So we did not lose sight of the main promise, which was to make government accountable to the people and
more transparent," he added. - Louis Bacani

Poll watch: Binay says his edge is being poor

13

by Ellson Quismorio
November 10, 2015
Share 2.4K Tweet5 Share0 Email0 2.4K
Share

United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard-bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay said his being poor will be his
advantage against his wealthy rivals for the presidency next year.
According to the 73-year-old Binay, his values as a leader have been shaped by his personal experiences growing up
in a hostile environment where he had to earn his keep.
image: http://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/binay-200x300.jpg
Binay
Unlike my rivals who come from propertied families and studied in exclusive schools here and abroad, come from
the ranks of the poor and rose from poverty through hard work, luck and perseverance, Binay told businessmen in a
Makati gathering.
I am entirely the product of the public school system. I understood, from my childhood, how hard it is to eke out a
living in a hostile environment, added Binay, who was orphaned at the age of nine and had to be taken in by an
uncle.
I understood quite well how a society that rewards merit rather than birthright opens opportunities for those who work
hard and cultivate talents, he said, as if trying to allude to his better off 2016 rivals.
JUST REWARDS
The presidential race next year pits Binay against Liberal Party (LP) bet Mar Roxas, who belongs to the wealthy
Araneta clan; Senator Grace Poe, who was raised by showbiz royalty couple Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces
and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, an accomplished former magistrate.
All three graduated from renowned educational institutions in the United States.
Incidentally, Binay is also the poorest presidential candidate among the four based on their 2014 statements of
assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN). His declared value is R60.2 million.
Roxas, the richest Palace hopeful has a net worth of R202 million.
I appreciate the value of just rewards for hard work. Patronage can only reproduce learned helplessness the best
society is where empowered citizens reasonably expect to be rewarded for merit, the opposition leader said.
These are values I hold dear. These are values that, I believe, distinguishes me from my rivals. These values will
define my presidency, the same values that will liberate our beloved Philippines.
POVERTY CHALLENGE
What would his presidency be like?
In one of his campaign sorties, Binay vowed to reduce poverty.
My vision is for every Filipino to have an equal share in the nations progress. No one should be left behind. Ang
hangad at pangarap ko ay ginhawa para sa lahat (My desire and wish is to provide relief for all), Binay said.

14

Lawyer Rico Quicho, Binays spokesperson for political affairs said the number of people who perceive themselves
as poor have risen in this administration.
SWS said that in 2014, 54 percent of Filipinos considered themselves poor, a six-point rise from the 48 percent result
in 2010 when Aquino was proclaimed president.
Quicho challenged the administration to explain why poverty has worsened the past five years.

Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/poll-watch-binay-says-his-edge-is-being-poor/#4gckpCWXqb7cHVcl.99

Binay: Noy government inept, insensitive to people

By Helen Flores (The Philippine Star) | Updated June 25, 2015 - 12:00am

15

NO RETREAT FROM FIGHT: Vice President Jejomar Binay addresses the nation yesterday, hitting selective
justice. Edd Gumban
VP dares rivals to face him in fair elections
MANILA, Philippines - Addressing the public for the first time since quitting the Cabinet two days ago, Vice
President Jejomar Binay slammed the Aquino administration yesterday for being inept and insensitive to the
needs of the people, and of employing selective justice in persecuting him and his family.
He said the straight path or daang matuwid is a sham, as he dared his political foes to face him in fair elections
in 2016.
They know that many of their candidates will not win in a clean and fair election. Thats why theyre resorting to
dirty tactics, to the point of shamelessly spewing lies, misusing public funds and continuing to violate the law,
Binay told the press at the Coconut Palace in Pasay City.
Binays family led by his wife Elenita as well as dozens of political allies and supporters attended the afternoon
press conference.
After delivering his speech, which lasted for about eight minutes, the Vice President left the room and did not
take questions from the media.

16

Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

To my political opponents, I am telling you now, if your intention is to stop me from running for president in
2016, you are mistaken. I never retreat from a fight, he stressed, drawing applause.
The Vice President resigned as chief of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and as
presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers concerns.
He said the Aquino administration is obsessed with enforcing twisted justice against its political opponents
while ignoring corruption in its ranks and neglecting the welfare of Filipinos.
Ive been through a lot of challenges. I was imprisoned several times during martial law because I fought for
freedom and democracy. Even after the 1986 EDSA revolution, I was harassed and there were attempts to
silence me because I constantly fought oppression and abuse, Binay said in his speech delivered in Filipino.
Now, under the present administration, they ganged up on me, to destroy me, insult me, harass me, remove
me from my office and even imprison me. This is because Im the main hindrance to their personal ambition
and agenda, he said.
The Vice President said he aspires for a government that would let justice and peace reign and one that
would fervently strive to help the needy, in contrast to the inept and insensitive administration of President
Aquino.
A government that would provide effective and broad health and education services, a government that is
humane, not callous, and has genuine empathy to people, he said.
Binay, who heads the opposition United Nationalist Alliance, is the only one so far who has declared his
intention to seek the presidency in 2016.

17

Selective justice
He said the selective justice under the Aquino administration is very evident in the way authorities treat
members of the opposition and allies in the Liberal Party linked to anomalies.
While they continue to harass and persecute me and my family, they also absolve their allies, partymates and
friends who are involved in anomalies, the Vice President said.
He said none of the administration officials have been made to account for the Disbursement Acceleration
Program (DAP) and the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), both declared unconstitutional by the
Supreme Court.
He also cited the alleged $30-million MRT extortion charge and the massacre of 44 elite policemen in the Jan.
25 Mamasapano operation.
He said the officials who prevented the release of the internal revenue allotment (IRA) in 2013 for the local
governments were left unpunished.
Binay also claimed he could no longer stomach the repeated claims of the administration that the people were
now benefiting from economic growth.
He said people in the provinces that he had visited were complaining of lack of opportunities due to prevailing
poverty.
He ended his speech by saying, I am your Vice President, Jojo Binay, who always says with my head held up
high that I am a true Filipino in heart and in deed, the one who will always be with you in good times and bad
times, and is now leading the opposition.
The corruption allegations against him and his family pulled down his ratings in latest presidential surveys.
Sen. Grace Poe had overtaken him in the June 2015 surveys of Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations.

Hollow
Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice said Binays speech sounded hollow, as he did not directly address the various
corruption allegations against him.
Why did he mention the DAP, PDAF only now, when he served five years in the Cabinet, Erice said in a
telephone interview. He also branded Binay as an ingrate, considering his being appointed by President Aquino
as the countrys housing czar.
Even if he was at odds with the Liberal Party, he was appointed by the President. But what did he do? He used
the (housing) agencies for his presidential ambitions, Erice said.
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said Binay should have resigned from the Cabinet much earlier if corruption
issues had really bothered him. Why did he remain for so long?

18

For Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe, Binay may have a point in saying that growth under the
administration was not inclusive enough.
But then, it cannot be denied that there is significant growth under the administration and inclusive growth is a
work in progress, Batocabe said.
But 1BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III said he doesnt see Binay completely severing his friendship with
Aquino.
Binays loyalty to the Aquinos is unquestionable, he stuck with the Presidents mother during several coup
attempts of rebel soldiers that tried to wrestle power during her term, Bello said.

No suspension order
As supporters of Makati City Jejomar Erwin Binay began converging by the hundreds yesterday at the city hall
grounds, the Office of the Ombudsman clarified it has not issued a new preventive suspension order on the city
chief executive in connection with alleged anomalies in the construction of the Makati Science High School
building.
The investigation of the Makati Science Building is still ongoing, the anti-graft agency said even as the police
reported the arrival of 500 Binay supporters at city hall. They were reportedly preparing to set up a blockade
around the city hall to prevent authorities from serving any suspension order.
As of today, no preventive suspension order has been issued in the case, the ombudsman said on its social
media accounts.
Makati City spokesman Joey Salgado said the situation at the city hall grounds was normal and no disruption of
services was reported.
Sources said Binay, his father, and 19 other former and incumbent officials of Makati City along with some
private individuals like officials of Hillmarcs Corp. are now subject of a preliminary investigation by the anti-graft
agency.
Fact-finding investigators have found probable cause to proceed with the probe for graft and falsification of
public documents against the Binays and other individuals.
A special panel of ombudsman investigators had recommended that the Binays and the others be suspended
again while being probed for administrative offenses of grave misconduct, dishonesty and violation of Republic
Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. Paolo Romero,
Michael Punongbayan, Raymund Catindig, Mike Frialde

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/11/07/Binay-gives-govt-failing-mark-for-Yolanda-recovery-efforts.html
http://thestandard.com.ph/news/-main-stories/top-stories/192103/vp-salary-hikes-for-state-workers-not-enough.html

19

http://www.manilatimes.net/binay-vows-bigger-el-nino-aid-to-lgus/231013/

VP: Salary hikes for state

workers not enough
posted November 17, 2015 at 12:01 am by Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

MALACAANGS proposed salary standardization for teachers is not enough to offset

the decline in the purchasing power of the peso, Vice President Jejomar Binay said
Monday.
He said providing quality education was key to addressing poverty.
Malacaangs proposed salary standardization, where an entry-level teachers salary
would increase only by 11.89 percent from P18,549 a month this year to P20,754 after
four annual salary hikes ending in 2019, would be hardly felt if we factor in inflation,
Binay said in a speech at the Centennial Celebration of the San Alberto Magno
Academy in La Union.
It would be better if we looked at adjusting the salary of a Teacher 1 from the current
Salary Grade 11 to at least Salary Grade 19.
Binay made his statement even as Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez expressed
hope that the House leadership under Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. would show the
same enthusiasm and political will in passing the bill lowering individual and corporate
income tax rates like it did when it passed the proposed Salary Standardization Law of
2015 last week.

20

We hope that this bill adjusting the income tax rates to inflation will finally get the
support from the government, Romualdez said.
We should not prolong the agony of our people, especially the low income earners, by
having this measure passed into law. This is a good way to show our malasakit to
them.
A member of the Makabayan Bloc in the House of Representatives said the government
employees occupying low- and middle-level positions were the biggest losers under the
Aquino administrations proposal for salary increases, while those occupying top posts
including the Presidentwere the most favored.
A measly P2,205 increase in four years is given to a Teacher I under the Malacaang
proposal embodied in House Bill 6268 for the Salary Standardization Law of 2015 or
SSL 2015, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said.
This increase amounts to a mere P24 in additional finances per day for the ordinary
public school teacher.
Binay said he would continue to push for the welfare of teachers and noted that his
daughter, Senator Nancy Binay, had already filed several bills in Senate aimed at giving
teachers additional benefits.
It is only appropriate to show gratitude for their service and dedication by way of giving
them reasonable compensation and benefits, Binay said.
He recounted how having quality education helped him improve his life and vowed to
increase the education budget by 20 percent if he was elected Presdient.
He said that, under his administration, he will increase the budget for education and
training by 20 percent. The increased fund will be used to build more classrooms, buy
more books and other instructional materials for elementary schools.

21

He said one of the priorities of his administration would be the review of the
implementation of the K-12 program.
I agree with the noble purpose behind K-12, but I feel that stakeholders are ill-prepared
for such major adjustments in their schedules and resources, Binay said.
We will fine-tune the system to prepare the schools and the students to be ready for
the changes.
Binay said he would also replicate the University of Makatis Dualized Education
System nationwide to compliment K-12.
K-12 must also be complemented by an apprenticeship program, Binay said.
Private sector enterprisesthrough their sectoral councilsmust be encouraged to
work with higher educational institutions in developing a college curriculum that is more
attuned to the requirements of the labor market.

22

23

24