United Nationalist Alliance standard-bearer Vice President Jejomar C. Binay vowed that his administration will respect human rights and value life following the endorsement of Catholic Church-backed pro-life groups Saturday.
“I have dedicated my life to fighting for the poor as a human rights lawyer during Martial Law, as mayor of Makati, and as your Vice President. My presidency will be one that respects and upholds the dignity of women, children, and the marginalized. My presidency will promote respect for human rights and the value of life,” Binay said in a statement.
Binay said that the “deeply held Christian values” of Filipinos would be challenged on May 9. “On May 9, the Filipino people are challenged to choose between two directions that are morally and spiritually contradictory. Our choice could define the direction our nation will take in the next six years, and dictate the future of our grandchildren, our children, and the next generation of Filipinos,” he said.
“I speak of a serious challenge to our deeply held Christian values. I speak of a choice between good and evil. I speak of a choice between those who advocate life and those who promote death,” he added.
Binay said that he prays that voters will choose “leaders who are committed to breaking the cycle of violence in our nation.”
Binay’s statement was an apparent dig at rival Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte platform of governance that promotes the use of violence in ending criminality.
El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde has not yet endorsed any candidate for the elections.
Instead, Velarde asked members of the El Shaddai in their gathering Saturday in Parañaque City to fill out a survey ballot to find out if they will vote for Binay, Senator Grace Poe and Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Duterte, or former Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II or whoever he will endorse for president.
They were also asked if they will vote Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo or Senators Alan Peter S. Cayetano, Francis Joseph “Chiz” G. Escudero, Gregorio B. Honasan II, Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., and Antonio F. Trillanes or Velarde’s choice for vice president.
Only Binay, Poe, Roxas, Marcos, and Escudero attended the overnight prayer vigil at the Amvel Park. (Anna Liza V. Alavaren and Leslie Ann G. Aquino)
