Binay ready for presidential debates

Vice President Jejomar Binay said yesterday he is ready for a face-off with other presidential candidates in the May 2016 elections.

Binay welcomed the presidential and vice presidential debates being organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in different parts of the country next year.

“That initiative is laudable because it will give the people the chance to know and see who is really deserving to be the country’s next president,” the Vice President said in an interview with dzXL.

Binay also expressed confidence that his rating will rise as the presidential election draws near.

“I believe it (ratings) will increase further. But the most accurate survey is the result of the election,” he said in Filipino.

Binay said he was surprised by the results of the Social Weather Stations’ September 2015 survey on presidential preference, where he slid to third place, with 35 percent.

The survey, taken from Sept. 2 to 5, showed Sen. Grace Poe still leading the list of “best leaders” to succeed President Aquino in 2016, garnering 47 percent. Liberal Party standardbearer Mar Roxas followed with 39 percent.

The various corruption allegations have taken their toll on Binay, who has seen his ratings dwindle in recent presidential surveys.

But Binay said he will continue to go directly to the people to air his side.

“I talk to the people, I’ll explain to them that the problems we have before remained the problems today. I also explain to them that these allegations against me are merely hearsays, politically motivated, pure lies,” he said.