Makati mayor Abigail Binay on Monday announced that she will run for reelection in the next year’s polls, with her father, former Makati Mayor and Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, returning to politics.
The former vice president will be running as representative for the first district under Mayor Abby’s ticket, his spokesman said in a news statement.
“I am confirming that former VP Binay will run as representative for the First District under the ticket of Mayor Abby,” said Joey Salgado, spokesman of the former vice president.
The mayor made the announcements during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony at the Makati City Hall.
Mayor Binay awarded a Certificate of Honor and a Loyalty Certificate to her father, who served as Makati mayor from 1986 to 1998, and from 2001 to 2010.
“It is a great honor to be standing on the same platform with the person who taught and showed me genuine loyalty to public service, Makati’s beloved, my father Jojo Binay!” Mayor Binay said.
The city paid tribute to Binay for his leadership that “has brought Makati to a new era of unprecedented growth, which led to the implementation of innovative and groundbreaking programs for the upliftment of the lives of Makatizens during his years of service to the city. He is a public servant worth emulating and from whom government employees can take inspiration,” read the inscription on the certificate.
In her speech, Mayor Binay also challenged her detractors and political opponents to focus on performance, rather than engaging in dirty politics, and vowed to counteract any accusation or criticism with a clean and principled leadership capable of outstanding performance.
The mayor cited the unprecedented “Unqualified Opinion” rendered by the Commission on Audit on its financial statements for 2017, which was the highest audit rating a government agency or unit can get. She expressed confidence that the city can maintain the said rating in the next audit periods, with the support and cooperation of the city government employees.
Mayor Binay thanked the awardees for their loyal and dedicated service, and appealed to all employees to join her in the pursuit of greater achievements for the city and its people.