The Binay effect

THE horn has been sounded for the start of opposition research, contrasting messages and character assassination of candidates left and right as we prepare for the October filing of certificates of candidacy. It appears no one seems to be willing to stand up and declare to the people his/her intentions, which is quite unlike what Vice President Jojo Binay did soon after winning the vice presidency in 2016. Binay made clear to everyone, as logic would dictate for a person in his position, he was interested in the presidency.

The Balay-Samar factions that had worked for the victory of Benigno Simeon Aquino 3rd (BSA3) in 2016 became the fork in the road at the start of 2016 and began to be felt more by the midterms. By that time, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), under former vice president Binay, fielded its own Senate slate while the Liberal Party had its separate slate. UNA combined the forces of Binay's Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada's Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP). The three political heavyweights - Binay, Erap and Enrile - were in one force.