Binay eyes win in vote-rich Pangasinan

BINMALEY, Pangasinan – Buoyed by the support of local politicians here, Vice President Jejomar Binay’s camp on Wednesday expressed confidence that it would grind out a victory in the vote-rich province come May 9.

United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) spokesman and provincial coordinator Mon Ilagan noted the support of gubernatorial candidate Mark Cojuangco and mayors Simplicio Rosario of Binmaley, and Josefina Castañeda of Lingayen in his assessment of a “possible” win

for Binay among Pangasinenses.

“Unang-una ang pagdating namin kanina, sinalubong kaagad si Vice President ni governor at yung punong bayan ng Binmaley at Lingayen. So tanda ito ng pagsuporta kay VP Binay at sa partido UNA,” Ilagan told Manila-based reporters in a chance interview. (First of all, the Vice President was greeted at once by the governor and the mayor’s of Binmaley and Lingayen. So this is a sign of support for VP Binay and the UNA party.)

The governor that Ilagan was referring to was incumbent Amado Es- pino Jr., who is on his last term at the capitol and will be vying for a House seat in the upcoming elections.

Pangasinan has 1.8 million registered voters, making it a very vital stop in national candidates’ campaign trail.

In the vice- presidential race in 2010, Binay lost in Pangasinan by 70,000 to Liberal Party (LP) rival Mar Roxas.

Reminded of this, Ilagan said that it’s now a different ballgame thanks in large part to the backing pledged by former Pangasinan Rep. Cojuangco, son of Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) chairman and business magnate Danding Cojuangco.

“It’s a different situation now dahil ang tumatakbong governor ngayon, si dating congressman Mark Cojuangco ay nagpahayag ng kanyang suporta kay VP Binay.

“We can’t discount the huge support. There’s a big possibility that it’s Binay’s turn to win in Pangasinan,” he said.

The younger Conjuangco expressed support for Binay’s presidential bid as early as June, 2015.

The NPC is the second largest political party in the county, next only to the ruling LP.

Binay, during an assembly with local officials here, scored the administration’s underspending while vowing not to pinch pennies as president on government programs aimed at alleviating the plight of the poor.

He flew into the province at the Lingayan airport at past 10 a.m. via helicopter. He then led a short motorcade here.

Boy Scouts event

Binay, 73, later attended the 60th Annual Council Meeting of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) at the Provincial Capitol Compound back in Lingayen that same afternoon.

Binay is the national president of the BSP.

“Bilang president ng BSP ay kailangan siya mag-preside ng meeting nito… Ang dadalo ay council chairpersons ng BSP (As the BSP president, he has to be the one to preside over this meeting... BSP council chairpersons will be attending),” he said.

“VP Binay respects the BSP organization and he doesn’t want his invitation by the BSP to be marred by politics,” Ilagan said in justifying Binay’s preference not to talk about politics during the event to remain silent.

“Also, it can be noticed that VP Binay doesn’t give interviews to the media whenever he’s wearing a BSP uniform,” he further noted.