Binay calls for unity, support for Duterte

The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay yesterday called on the public to unite and support the administration of incoming president Rodrigo Duterte.

Joey Salgado, communications director of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), stressed the need for unity and healing as the country moves forward from the recent elections.

“We ask everyone to set aside partisanship and help the incoming administration move this nation towards unity and healing,” Salgado said.

Binay, one of the rivals of Duterte in the presidential race, has conceded to the toughtalking mayor and called him Thursday evening.

The conversation was described as light and cordial and “filled with laughter, which is not surprising considering their ties.”

Salgado said Binay addressed Duterte as “Mr. President.”

During the campaign period, Binay initially refused to engage with Duterte, at one point even calling him as a capable candidate for the highest post in the land.

When Duterte started leading the pre-electoral surveys in the last leg of the campaign, Binay began pounding on the mayor and criticized him over his alleged links to unexplained killings.

Duterte responded by pointing at the corruption allegations lodged against Binay.

The Vice President, who is fourth in the partial and unofficial tally of votes, has shied away from public view following Monday’s polls.

Salgado said Binay would like to spend more time with his family.

Meanwhile, the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and the Makabayan bloc of leftist party- list groups expressed their support yesterday for the incoming Duterte administration.