MANILA—“Dapat gawa, hindi dada (Action first before chitchat).”
This was the closing statement of United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard bearer Vice President Jejomar C. Binay on Sunday evening during the second presidential debate at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Cebu.
He added that he is capable to lead the country and has concern for the Filipinos.
“Sa aking pamumuno (sa Makati), nabigay ang basic social services. Enough of mediocrity in governance… May kakayahan akong mamuno. Pero importante rin ang malasakit sa tao (In my governance (in Makati), basic social services were given. Enough of mediocrity in governance… I have the capability to lead. But solicitude to people is also important),” the 73-year-old opposition candidate noted.
During the debate, Binay questioned independent presidential bet Senator Grace Poe, the current survey frontrunner on issues about her citizenship.
“Alam mo Madam Senator, lagi nating pinag-uusapan ang rule of law, eh lagi mong sinasabi na ikaw ay tunay na Pilipino. Eh pano ka magiging tunay na Pilipino kung sumumpa ka na maging Amerikano? (You know Madam Senator, rule of law is always being talked about, you always say that you are a true Filipino. How could you be a true Filipino when you swore to be an American?)” Binay told the lady lawmaker during the first round of debate.
“Ilang milyong overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) ang nasa ibang bansa ngayon, pero di nawala ang pagmamahal nila sa bayan. Ikaw, number one na nagsasabi na pino-protektahan mo ang OFWs. Pero sinasabi mo na ang naninirahan sa ibang bansa, hindi na pwedeng manungkulan? Hindi porke’t umalis ng bansa, nanirahan sa ibang bansa, ay ikinahiya mo na ang pagiging Pilipino (Millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are abroad, but their love for the country had not been lost. You are first to claim to protect the OFWs. But you’re saying that leaving the country, living in another nation is shunning one’s Filipino citizenship?),” Poe told Binay in defense.
“Mas mabuti nang umalis ka at nagtrabaho nang marangal, kaysa nanitili ka sa bansa, pero nangulimbat ka (It’s better to leave (the country) and work honorably than stay and steal),” she added.
The Supreme Court recently allowed Poe to run in the May polls despite issues against her citizenship and residency.