by Jose Rodel Clapano (The Philippine Star) Jan 20, 2010
MANILA, Philippines - Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said Sunday night that the next president can sleep well if he is elected vice president.
“I will not grab power. I will be a partner of the president and I will support whatever he will do,” he said during GMA-7’s televised vice presidential debate. Binay is president of the United Opposition and running mate of former President Joseph Estrada.
Binay said he initially planned to run for president, but decided to slide down to vice president after Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III declared his presidential bid.
“I cannot run against Noynoy because I have big debt of gratitude to his mother, the late former President Cory Aquino. I would not have been in my place right now, had it not been for President Aquino,” he said.
Binay said as a member of the opposition, he cannot run against Estrada “because he is the leader of the opposition and I recognize his leadership. I cannot be a good leader if I cannot be a good follower.”
He said if he is elected vice president, he will work for the “true decentralization” of local government units (LGUs).
“What we have right now is not the real decentralization because the budget is still controlled by Malacañang. We must make decentralization a reality. Makati is an example of a working local government unit,” Binay said.
Binay said the city government of Makati, under his administration, has been a recipient of many awards because of its programs for the disabled.
He said the benefits the city government is giving to senior citizens – such as free entry to movie houses, P1,000 cash gift and cakes during their birthdays and P2,000 bonuses every year – are the same benefits given to persons with disabilities (PWDs). “Makati is the only LGU that is doing this,” Binay said.
Binay said he does not oppose people from prominent political clans running for public office so long as they are “competent, capable and highly qualified to lead. What is important is you are elected through a clean election.”
“I will not grab power. I will be a partner of the president and I will support whatever he will do,” he said during GMA-7’s televised vice presidential debate. Binay is president of the United Opposition and running mate of former President Joseph Estrada.
Binay said he initially planned to run for president, but decided to slide down to vice president after Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III declared his presidential bid.
“I cannot run against Noynoy because I have big debt of gratitude to his mother, the late former President Cory Aquino. I would not have been in my place right now, had it not been for President Aquino,” he said.
Binay said as a member of the opposition, he cannot run against Estrada “because he is the leader of the opposition and I recognize his leadership. I cannot be a good leader if I cannot be a good follower.”
He said if he is elected vice president, he will work for the “true decentralization” of local government units (LGUs).
“What we have right now is not the real decentralization because the budget is still controlled by Malacañang. We must make decentralization a reality. Makati is an example of a working local government unit,” Binay said.
Binay said the city government of Makati, under his administration, has been a recipient of many awards because of its programs for the disabled.
He said the benefits the city government is giving to senior citizens – such as free entry to movie houses, P1,000 cash gift and cakes during their birthdays and P2,000 bonuses every year – are the same benefits given to persons with disabilities (PWDs). “Makati is the only LGU that is doing this,” Binay said.
Binay said he does not oppose people from prominent political clans running for public office so long as they are “competent, capable and highly qualified to lead. What is important is you are elected through a clean election.”
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