Binay leading VP race because he did his homework — Pimentel

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay did his homework. This was how Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., resigned chairman emeritus of Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP-Laban), described the unexpected surge of Binay in the vice presidential race. In a press conference in Ermita, Manila Friday, the senator said he was initially surprised with the number of votes received by his former partymate, even overtaking two senatorial topnotchers, Senators Manuel Roxas II of the Liberal Party and Loren Legarda of the Nationalist People’s Coalition. “I am just as surprised as the millions of our countrymen who suddenly were confronted with a Binay vice presidency because if you will recall from the very beginning less than 1 percent pa nga si Binay at the start of surveys," he said. “A local official who has never had any national campaign exposure all of a sudden finds himself on top of his rivals," Pimentel added. Knowing Binay as a very assiduous worker, he said he came to realize now that the election results should have been expected by the people. Pimentel and Binay were both members of Movement of Attorneys for Brotherhood, Integrity and Nationalism, Inc. (MABINI), a group of lawyers that fought the Marcos dictatorship. Pimentel was also President Corazon Aquino's Interior secretary when Binay was appointed as officer in charge of Makati. He said the Makati mayor “would practically leave nothing to chance. He did his homework." The senator said Binay planted seeds for his national campaign years ago. “First as a boy scout chairman, he went around the country several years ago. Then followed that up with sister city arrangements. Makati and other and less fortunate cities all over the nation," Pimentel said. Binay served as the mayor of Makati for more than two decades. Among the sister cities of Makati are Dumaguete City, Iligan City, Sta Rosa, Laguna and Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. With these activities, Binay established a connection with local governments which neither Roxas nor Legarda have. “It’s personal, direct, cemented connection with local government units who, in the ultimate analysis, really delivered the votes," the senator said. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV