Lately, groups have been pushing for an Aquino-Binay tandem over the Liberal Party's Aquino-Roxas slate. It's not difficult to see why, given how Binay has marketed himself as having been in the good fight "since the beginning." Campaign ads featuring his pictured with the late President Cory Aquino and clearly featuring his affiliation with the August 21 Movement (ATOM) serve to reinforce this notion that he upholds the exact same principles and politics as Noynoy Aquino.
But are Binay's politics truly the same as Noynoy's? Should we be choosing him over Mar Roxas?
Let's ignore the charges of corruption against Binay; after all a man is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Let's also ignore that Binay and Aquino are running from different political parties, as this means just as much in Philippine politics as celebrities switching media networks.
Instead, let's look at the beginning of this tale: when then-presidentiable Mar Roxas publicly declared that he will step aside for Noynoy Aquino should Noynoy decide to run for President. This singular act of selflessness and a casting aside of political ambition changed the political landscape of the Philippines, setting the stage for the months to follow and leading to next week's elections.
Where was Jojo Binay when this was all going down?
Negotiations were under way to ask Erap to support Noynoy's bid for the presidency, in an effort to concentrate opposition forces on a single candidate. But concessions could not be made, and in the end Erap chose to take a risk and run for President - with Jojo Binay in tow as his Vice-Presidential candidate.
What happened?
The truth can now be told: Erap and Binay wanted concessions, Noynoy and the Liberal Party did not give in. In particular, Binay wanted the vice-president slot in the LP slate - a position Noynoy had already given to Mar Roxas. Failing at this and subsequently refusing a Senator slot, with the possibility of a DILG Secretary position should he lose as Senator, he instead sided with Erap in his bid for the Presidency - despite the legal issues at the time.
Binay has repeatedly sold himself as one who believes in the fight and legacy of Cory - so why could he not accept Noynoy's decision to place him among the Senatorials? Why align himself with Erap, whose legal basis for running for President was shaky at best?
The answer is simple. Binay does not believe in Noynoy.
At the very least, his actions underline this view. His refusal to go down to Senator. His refusal to instead stay on the sidelines and pitch his support, in the same way that Chiz Escudero has done. His alignment with Erap as his Presidential candidate. All of these point to the simple fact that Binay does not believe Noynoy is the right person to be President of this country, if only because Noynoy did not give Binay what he wanted.
In contrast, Mar has believed in Noynoy since Day 1 (or Day 0, whichever suits your fancy). Mar has let Noynoy lead this campaign, and despite being chairman of the Liberal Party, has deferred to Noynoy's decisions as far as the campaign decisions have gone. Mar Roxas believes that Noynoy is the right person to become President, which is why Mar gave up what he wanted - a shot at becoming President in this year's elections.
The choice is clear. If we are to believe that Noynoy deserves our vote, then it follows that the vice-presidential candidate who deserves our vote should believe as we do - that Noynoy should become President.
Binay is not the right person to be vice-president.
Mar Roxas is.
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