Binay to TU bets: Time to concede defeat

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay asked Wednesday Team Unity (TU) candidates who did not make it into the Magic 12 in the recent official tabulation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the senatorial race to concede defeat. In a press conference, Binay, president of the United Opposition (UNO), warned that the country would be plunged into a “political crisis" if the Comelec will not redeem itself from the alleged massive cheatings in the May 14 elections especially in Mindanao. “They (TU candidates) must concede defeat. President Arroyo must tell the Team Unity candidates to shut up and accept the judgment of the people," Binay said. Meanwhile, TU senatorial candidate Michael Defensor has conceded that he won't make it to the Senate's 12 available slots. The administration bet ranked 15th, 876,660 votes away from the 12th spot, in the Commission on Elections partial official tally as of end-Wednesday. DZBB reported that Defensor said his camp's own count showed that he would end up only at 13th to 15th in the Senate race. Twelve of 24 Senate seats are at stake in the elections. The former Presidential Chief of Staff said he did not believe his closeness to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who made him part of her Cabinet since assuming power in 2001, contributed to his defeat. In Makati, Binay said Mrs Arroyo herself who made an appeal to candidates to immediately accept the results of the election. “We trust that the appeal is also addressed to administration candidates" Binay said. Binay also chided TU’s earlier statement that it will ask the Comelec to declare a failure of elections in Metro Manila and other bailiwicks of the Genuine Opposition (GO). “It’s funny. But on second thought they appear to be serious about it. I think this is a divertionary tactic," the reelected mayor said. Binay said the Arroyo administration must accept that the opposition’s time has come. “The Team Arroyo must accept the fact that the Senate will be dominated by the opposition, that Metro Manila will be dominated by the opposition. If there are destabilizers now, that is the Team Arroyo" Binay said. Binay said the victory of opposition candidates in Makati (Binay), Manila (Alfredo Lim) Pasay (Peewee Trinida), San Juan (JV Ejercito), Pateros (Joey Medina) and Muntinlupa (Aldrin San Pedro) indicated the people don’t trust the Arroyo administration. He said that the TU’s deputy spokesman has singled out Makati as one of the cities that the Comelec should investigate for possible electoral fraud. “I don’t know why Makati was singled-out. The election in Makati was covered extensively by media," Binay said. “We had the National Movement for Free Elections and foreign observers. The Comelec investigation would show who cheated and the cheating they (administration) committed." - GMANews.TV