Saturday, February 02, 2008 Binay: Lawyer-president good for country, media By Ben Serrano
CABADBARAN CITY -- Although sounding coy on his rumored presidential ambitions, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay hinted a lawyer-president by 2010 is best for both the country and the Fourth State.
Binay, the United Opposition (UNO) president and national president of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), was special guest at the coronation rites of Miss Cabadbaran 2008 Thursday night.
He was invited by Cabadbaran Mayor Dale Corvera who is a member of the National Executive Board of the BSP.
Binay -- who earned his masteral degree in law and doctorate of Public Administration both at the University of the Philippines (U.P) -- jokingly told local newsmen in a press conference that the problem hounding Philippine media like the mass arrest of journalists at the Manila Peninsula Hotel could have been addressed properly if the President was a lawyer.
"As litigation lawyer for many years, I think it is not right to arrest journalists who merely do their job. That's why its best for the country and good for Philippine Media to have a President who knows the law," the Makati mayor said.
Binay said his city remains his priority as of the moment, including the strengthening of the Boy Scout movement in the country.
But when pressed if he would make himself available for the 2010 presidential elections, Binay jestingly replied: "Aba eh, if all local officials and newsmen here present will support and vote for me as the next President, why not?"
Further escalating the rumor, Agusan del Norte Representative Edelmiro Amante described Binay as "nice person and the next President of the Philippines" when the lawmaker introduced the mayor to the crowd.
