The United Opposition tandem of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada and Mayor Jejomar Binay on Friday said that Filipino voters would not be swayed by money in the 2010 elections.
According to Binay of Makati City, he is unfazed by the prospect of going against moneyed candidates in next year’s polls, saying that his and Estrada’s performance as executives and their real concern for the poor would spell the difference in the coming balloting.

“We do not fear having to face opponents whose main strength is money. Both President Erap and I have proved that the people vote for those who will really care for them and with a concrete track record of accomplishments,” said the mayor, the vice presidential candidate of Estrada in the 2010 voting.
The opposition leader added that it is not true that in all instances those who have the money will win. He said that they have also proved this in previous elections in Makati where candidates backed by the national administration spent huge amounts of money in a bid to defeat him.

“We trust in the wisdom of the people and we are confident that in the coming elections, Filipinos will not be swayed by money,” Binay added.

He also expressed confidence that the electorate would be more discerning in choosing their next leaders next year.

“The next administration will have a lot of cleaning up to do. We will be left with a government in shambles. The people, I believe, know that we cannot entrust this major task to those with little or no executive experience,” Binay said.

Cris G. Odronia