Cavite Gov. Remulla, ex Binay spokesman, joins Duterte camp
The powerful Remulla clan of the province of Cavite has junked its longtime ally and political patron Vice President Jejomar Binay in favor of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. The defection comes just ten days before the May 9 national and local elections.
Sarah Duterte confirmed the news through her official Facebook page Friday afternoon, where she shared photos of her father while in a meeting with Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla and his older brother, former Congressman Jesus Crispin Remulla in Pasay City Friday.
Remulla served as Binay’s spokesperson for much of 2014 and 2015. The two men were so politically aligned at that time that Binay had at several instances announced that if elected, the outgoing Cavite governor will be his Interior Secretary.
Binay was able to eke out a narrow victory in the Vice Presidential race in 2010 because of his strong ties to local government leaders across the country. However, the formula seems to be not working for him this time.
For example, despite his intense courtship, Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda decided to back administration standard bearer Mar Roxas and not him. Early this month, former Cebu Governor and now Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia and her local party One Cebu also junked Binay in favor of Duterte. A bigger blow for Binay is the decision of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada to back Senator Grace Poe over him.
Binay was the running-mate of Estrada when he sought to regain the presidency in 2010. The two were long-time allies, with Estrada appointing Binay as the chair of the Metro Manila Development Authority during his years as president.
From being the front runner in pre-election polls taken last January, Binay is now down to third place behind Duterte and Binay, sometimes even falling to fourth place behind Roxas.
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