VP Binay drops clues on running mate: Male, a veteran politician

Male, and a veteran politician.

These were the clues given by Vice President Jejomar Binay regarding his running mate in the 2016 elections.

“Lalaki. Beterano naman. Siyempre kasama lagi ang karanasan,” he told reporters in an interview Wednesday.

The opposition's presumptive standard bearer, meanwhile, refused to divulge the name, saying the person he is referring to is not yet 100 percent ready to accept his offer.

“Hindi pa kasi tapos na tapos, may natitira pang bahagi para mabuo. Mga 10 to 15 percent na lang,” Binay said, adding he will announce his running mate as soon as the person accepts his offer.

“Kung matutuloy ito, very soon [ang announcement]. Kung hindi matutuloy, baka abutin tayo ng katapusan ng buwan,” he said.

Binay said he believes their tandem will be strong.

“Makatitiyak kayo na 'yung makakasama ko for Vice President, magkakatulungan kami at malaki ang magiging suporta sa aming partido,” he said.

Binay, however, did not give a direct answer when asked if his prospective running mate is Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“Nanggagaling sa media, kasi mga tanong ninyo kumbaga sa husgado leading questions,” he said.

Asked what he would do if Marcos would not agree to be his running mate, Binay just said: “Mag-concentrate na lang muna tayo sa option 1. Pero mahalaga dapat may option. Sabi ko sa 'yo, kung hindi matutuloy ang option 1, magtatagal dahil pupunta na tayo sa option 2.”

Marcos, for his part, said he has yet to make any decision as he still has to consult with the Nacionalista Party.

“Again no final decision has been made. Magko-konsulta pa kami ng Nacionalista Party this week, so hindi pa kami pwede magsabi na ganun na ka sure. I’ve nothing new to tell you, we are still waiting to decide because there are still some elements we are trying to consider,” he told reporters.

He added he had communication with Binay but not in a personal manner.

“Through intermediaries and we have close communication. Again, this is not a decision made by an individual, it is a decision made by many, including those outside the political arena as well,” Marcos said.

“This is not a question of probabilities, this is a question of looking at variables and seeing what they will turn out to be. Hindi pustahan ito. We are talking about deciding what the political situation is, if it is favorable or if it is not. If you are going to assess the political situation, you look at thousands of different variables and that is why it is not a simple decision to make,” he added.

He said he will announce his decision when everything is clear to him. —KBK, GMA News