Vice president Jejomar Binay pulling away from the pack: Leads Poe, Duterte and Roxas

Vice president Jejomar Binay is slowly pulling away from his political opponents in the Presidential run, with a very reliable survey placing him about 11 percentage points away from Grace Poe (second), Rody Duterte and Mar Roxas.  The survey was not commissioned by the Binay camp, but was commissioned by a businessman and it was a foreign firm which conducted the survey.

I am not at liberty here of revealing the name of this survey outfit but this outfit is highly respected and reliable. This firm is usually resorted to as a perceptions measuring tool by foreign investors.

With February just around the corner, if Binay sustains this lead, it may well ease fears of a very contentious presidential derby by May. Many investors are apprehensive of such a scenario because it creates a politically destabilising situation. A highly contested presidential race could create a very nasty outcome not just in politics, but would also affect the markets.

Why do voters prefer Binay over the others? I think there is a perception that Binay is the right choice, for several reasons: First, Binay is not linked with any big business interest, unlike Poe-Llamanzares who is being financed heavily by Ramon Ang of San Miguel, the Zamora brothers who are involved heavily in mining and of Ricky Razon. The Ayala-Zobels and the Aranetas obviously backs Mar Roxas' campaign being their relative and who does not know that Filipino-Chinese businessmen are behind Duterte's campaign?

The thing here is this--these businessmen who are now financing the political futures of Poe-Llamanzares, Roxas and Duterte would surely ask for economic concessions once any one of them successfully gets elected to power. The fact is, as early as now, Poe-Llamanzares is thinking of tinkering with our Constitution to further widen foreign investor influence over our markets. Poe-Llamanzares wants foreigners to own land, a move that could severely weaken the position of our local businessmen. Probably, Poe-Llamanzares does not know about the effects of severe capitalist competition.

Besides, most of Poe-Llamanzares' funders have interests in public-private partnerships. San Miguel bids for 12 of 13 PPP projects that government has lined up. Same goes with Roxas' Ayala. The minute either one wins the presidency, expect these Big Businessmen to ask for billions as ROI. The fact is, I estimate that they would ask for a trillion pesos in exchange for the billions they poured into the campaign kitties of their candidates.

We all know that Binay is not financially as stable as that of Roxas or of Poe-Llamanzares. What I got from a source is that ordinary people are trying to help the vice president in whatever way possible for him to win this contest.

The second reason is that Binay has a provan track record as a public servant. He really helps people. He goes out of his way to help those in need. As a Makati resident myself, I have heard of legendary things that Binay did and continues to do for his people here. That explains why incumbent mayor Kid Pena stands to lose this elections, even if Abby does not campaign.

Pena and his minions are running around like amateurs, even allowing online casinos to operate in the city and messing around with the funds allocated for medicines and all, according to several senior citizens I had the pleasure of talking to.

The last reason is this---Binay would surely serve the people and the Office of the President with all honesty and I hate to counter what Senator Antonio Trillianes IV said that a plunderer will always plunder--I think it will be a totally different ball game this time around for Binay.

Binay knows that he will be risking his political future once he does an impropriety in office. If he runs as president, many groups would assume a "wait and see" attitude and will stalk him like crazy. If Binay commits any act that would even suggest impropriety, he would surely get what he deserves--a repeat of the coup which groups committed against Binay's compadre, Erap Estrada.

Binay quits Cabinet--why now?

Vice president Jejomar Binay has tendered his resignation as head of the OFW and housing sector of the Aquino administration. His irrevocable resignation was submitted personally by his daughter, Cong. Abby Binay. Several sectors believe that this might be the consequence of a falling out between Binay and his erstwhile buddy, President Benigno S. Aquino III.

With Binay distancing himself from Aquino which is a few months away from the 2016 elections, what is the consequence of such an action?

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV says this is a signal for the Aquino administration to go "all-out" against Binay. What does this mean? Does this mean that Binay will be "fed to the dogs"--a validation of earlier fears of the Ombudsman ruling against the Binays and submitting a probable cause charge before the Sandigan?

If that is the case then do we see the Binays behind bars before they file their candidacies before October?

If I'm the adviser of Pnoy, I would advise moving against the Binays because that would be a sign that the move is overtly political. The Aquino administration would be courting danger. That is a self-destabilising move.

Don't count VP Binay out. Binay is a survivor. Binay has so many cards in his sleeve.

One should not discount his years as a politician. His network is deep. He can pull off a surprise.

What the people expect the President to do is prepare the government for the transition. It is not advisable to wage a war when you are exiting from the political scene unless of course, you want nothing more than ensure your fate post-election?

An astute political observer would say that the President should act more presidential now that he has a few months to go. The reason is the Office of the President is not just a PUBLIC OFFICE but the HIGHEST OFFICE of the land. It is not a property of any body or any interest--it is of the Filipino People. Regardless of who the President is, this office should be treated as an INSTITUTION and not the sole property of anyone.

Now, is Binay's resignation a portent of things to come? Do we expect fireworks very soon between the President and Binay? Is this a confirmation of earlier reports that Pnoy has chosen Grace Poe as his candidate and not Mar?

This is a deft move on the part of the vice president. Now, he can go for the jugular. He can present an alternative viewpoint of the successes of the Pnoy administration. But, will this work for his advantage?