WATCH: Junjun, Abby Binay feud spills over into poll forum held inside church
Kevin Manalo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA (6th UPDATE)—Former Makati Mayor Junjun Binay on Saturday lost his cool when his sister, incumbent Abigail “Abby” Binay, appeared to question the way he ran his campaign.
The incident happened during an election forum organized by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) at San Ildefonso Parish.
In a speech, Abby called on candidates to stop spreading lies while campaigning.
“Sa natitirang panahon sa ngayon sa kampanya tigilan na ang pagkakalat ng kasinungalingan, tigilan na ang pagkakalat. Tigilan ang pagyuyurak sa aking pagkatao at sa aking asawa. Hindi kayo mananalo nang ganyan,” she said.
After her turn, she returned to her seat beside Junjun, appearing to talk to her younger brother irritably.
Then the siblings raised their voices and Junjun stood up. He then knelt in front of Abby. Makati Police chief Pablo Simon approached the two and tried to calm them down.
Their father, former vice-president Jejomar Binay, who was seated at the farthest end of the platform, stood up and stepped in. He got Abby to move seats, while Junjun stood up and took the microphone.
Addressing the audience, Junjun said he was upset with how the forum turned out.
“Alam mo ate Abby, nandito tayo. Pwede po katahimikan, pinandidilatan po ako ng kapatid ko. Bakit ko gagawin? Nagsasabi raw ako ng kasinungalingan. Ibang klase. Wala ako ginawa sa ’yo nandito tayo sa simbahan, ate, dapat may paggalang,” he said.
“O ayan lumalabas tunay na ugali. Walang respeto. Ako po ay humarap dito ng buong paggalang sa simbahan pero pangdidilatan ako ng mata ng kapatid ko. ’Yung ospital ng Makati hanggang ngayon hindi nagagawa.”
The crowd erupted into cheers and boos. The police called everyone to leave the venue.
It was past 9 p.m. when everyone settled. The PPCRV concluded the forum.
Junjun later explained to ABS-CBN News: “Sinisigawan ako, inaangilan ako. Anyway ’wag na natin pahabain.”
The Binay patriarch said he was also dismayed and that he will deal with his children.
“Nagpupuntahan sila doon kaya nagpunta na rin ako . . . Cool lang. Di maganda ‘yun,” the elder Binay said, adding, “Ako na bahala doon,” when asked whether he would talk to his children.
The PPCRV, which organized the forum, acknowledged that the incident came as a shock.
“Well, hindi ko rin ine-expect ’yun na may ganu’n, but I think they got emotional siguro,” said Dr. Arwin Serrano of PPCRV National.
Some parishioners said they were disappointed, saying personal matters should be handled at home and not in church.
Abby, meanwhile, continued her campaign at Barangay Guadalupe Viejo after the spat.
“Wala kayong mahahanap, pagkatapos sasabihan ako na maldita? Sasabihan ako na masama ang ugali ko? Tumira ba ‘ko kahit isang beses? Hindi ba puro sila ang tapon nang tapon ng puro kasinungalingan? Itigil na ang kasinungalingan,” she said.
In a previous interview, Abby said she had not spoken to Junjun for months after he decided to contest the mayoral seat in next month’s local elections.
Five of six Makati mayoral candidates were present in the forum: the Binay sibilings, Rene Bondal, Wilfredo Talag, and Ricky Yabut.
