Ex-VP Binay to seek House seat in 2019 — spokesperson

Former Vice President Jejomar Binay will run for a congressional seat as Makati representative in the 2019 midterm polls, his spokesperson Joey Salgado said Monday.

“I am confirming that former VP Binay will run as representative for the First District,” Salgado said in a text message.

“In this morning's flag-raising ceremony at Makati City Hall, Mayor Abby (Abigail) Binay announced that she will run for re-election. She also said former Makati Mayor and Vice President Jejomar Binay will return to public service,” Salgado added.

Binay, who lost in the 2016 presidential polls, leads the United Nationalist Alliance.

At present, former athlete/actor Monsour del Rosario is representing Makati’s first district at the House of Representatives.

With the former Vice President returning to politics, the Binays are bidding to win the top elective posts in Makati City since Makati City Mayor Abby and her husband and Representative Luis Campos of Second District of Makati City are both eligible for reelection. 

Senator Nancy Binay is also eligible for reelection in next year’s polls. 

Pending cases

Former Vice President Binay is still facing graft, malversation, and falsification of public documents charges in connection with the alleged anomalous P2.2-billion Makati City parking building and a separate graft charge involving the P1.3 billion Makati Science High School Building before the Sandiganbayan.

The anti-graft court, however, has allowed the former Vice President and his wife, Elenita, to go on a 16-day spiritual endeavor in Italy in a minute Resolution issued by the Sandiganbayan's Third and Fifth Division, respectively, issued last September 18.

The Binay couple will be in Italy from September 28 to October 13 and are expected to pay a visit in Romer, Assisi, Padova, Venice, Turin and Florence.

Binay's son Erwin, on the other hand, has also been ordered dismissed and perpetually disqualified from public office by the Office of the Ombudsman in October 2015 also in connection with the P2.2 billion Makati City parking building.

The Court of Appeals reversed the Ombudsman's decision last May by arguing that Erwin cannot be sanctioned due to condonation doctrine which prevents authorities from prosecuting an elected official for his or her act committed during or immediately preceding his or her term. — RSJ, GMA News