MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Senator Nancy Binay filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator on Friday, October 12, accompanied by brother Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay Jr as her siblings compete for the mayorship of their bailiwick Makati City.
While the senator was supposed to be the star of her own COC filing, it was her brother Junjun who took center stage because of the issue hounding him and sister Abigail "Abby" Binay Campos.
A sibling war is brewing in Makati City as Junjun is "strongly considering to run" for mayor against reelectionist sister Abby. Their father, former vice president and long-time Makati mayor Jejomar Binay, in on a pilgrimage in Italy, and is expected to help resolve this sibling rivalry.
"Pagbalik ng parents namin, mag-uusap kaming pamilya. At the moment, hold muna ‘yang Binay vs Binay hanggang hindi pa kami nakakapag-usap," Nancy said after filing her COC at the Comelec on Friday.
(When our parents return, our family will discuss the issue. At the moment, we’re holding the Binay vs Binay issue until we have discussed it.)
"Matatanda na ang mga kapatid ko. May mga sariling isip na sila (My siblings are adults. They have minds of their own)," she said.
Despite the sibling rivalry, Nancy expressed confidence that “everything has a solution.”
"At the end of the day, we’re still family," she said,
Asked if she is closer to Junjun or to Abby, Nancy replied in jest, "Sino ba ang kasama ko ngayon (Who am I with now)?"
Junjun on Abby: 'We rarely see her'
In an interview with reporters after his sister’s COC filing, Junjun also said he prefered that they talk as a family first.
The last time he spoke to Abby, he said, was on his birthday on July 12.
"We rarely see her," Junjun said. "Ganoon naman ever since. Hindi naman bago ‘yung hindi namin siya nakikita (It’s been that way ever since. It’s not something new that we do not see her)."
"Normally we have Sunday lunch or dinner. Hindi naman siya pumupunta (She doesn’t show up)," he added.
Junjun was also asked about a quote attributed to Abby, saying that he should first settle his pending cases before running for Makati City mayor.
"But there’s no legal impediment. For me that’s a sign of desperation," Junjun said, pointing out that the decisions on his cases are not final and executory.
“Why would she say that? Parang ito na lang ‘yung way para manalo 'yung kapatid ko, na hindi ako tumakbo (Is this the only way for my sister to win, that I should not run)?" he added. – Rappler.com
