“Let’s not be hypocrites. Let’s just be honest with each other. We will not be able to distinguish whether I am working or campaigning,” Vice President Jejomar Binay said in reaction to the statement of Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale that the Vice President is already campaigning for the 2016 presidential elections by visiting one province after another.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday from the town of Tabuelan in Cebu City, Binay gave his reaction to the comment made by Magpale; even as he was seeing to his responsibilities as head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and presidential adviser on migrant workers’ affairs.
According to Binay, his official responsibilities in these fields are what keep him “province hopping” around the country.
However, his style of conducting business – which includes charismatic speeches, giving away T-shirts promoting himself, and sharing long-table style meals with the town residents – has raised a few eyebrows and stirred suspicions that these activities are part of early campaigning for 2016.
“For incumbents, it will be hard for you to distinguish if we are campaigning or we are working,” he said.
When queried about his business in Tabuelan, Binay said it was in relation to a report he was making on the progress of the Aquino administration’s rehabilitation endeavours in areas devastated by Supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in November 2013.
Binay’s every move has been scrutinized by the public ever since allegations of corruption were made against him. He has denied all charges, which are now the subject investigation of the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee.