Binay camp denies junking Erap
The camp of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) leading vice-presidential bet Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay on Thursday denied deserting the partyâs standard bearer, former President Joseph Estrada. Lawyer Manuel Sanchez, Binayâs legal counsel, dismissed the reported rift between his client and Estrada as "political intrigues," saying that the tandemâs loyalties remain with each other. "He [Binay] has been very, very friendly and close to President Estrada. In fact, he has always maintained na napakalaki ng utang na loob niya kay President Erap," Sanchez said in a report aired over GMAâs 24 Oras. One of Estrada's lawyers, George Garcia, likewise said that Erap and Binay even met each other on Tuesday â proof that they remained loyal to each other. On Wednesday, PMP spokesperson Rafael Calinisan said a number of the partyâs supporters believe that Binay has already deserted Estrada, who continues to trail Liberal Party standard-bearer Senator Benigno âNoynoy" Aquino in the presidential race. [See: Noynoy, Binay still dominate Congress canvassing] Binay, on the other hand, continues to lead the vice-presidential race by a slim margin over Aquino's running mate, Senator Manuel Roxas II.