MANILA -- Makati Mayor Jejomar "Junjun" Binay Jr. is confident to say that he is not a corrupt politician.
"Hindi ako corrupt," a proud Binay told ABS-CBN News reporter Anthony Taberna during an episode of "Tapatan ni Tunying" aired on Thursday.
Binay, who is now on his second term as mayor of Makati, said his statement can be proven by the Commission on Audit's (COA) reports regarding the city's expenses.
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| Makati Mayor Junjun Binay and Senator Nancy Binay |
"Makikita po ninyo na tama ang pangagalaga namin ng pera dito," he said.
Binay was only 9 years old when his father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, was elected as Makati mayor in 1986.
Not long after that, he himself tried entering the world of politics through the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK). He was 15 then.
"It was really my choice. In fact, inawat ako ng tatay ko...dahil nag-aaral pa. Pero pinilit ko talaga so nirespeto naman ng tatay ko," he said.
'DasmaGate'
In the interview, he said being a Binay actually has more disadvantages than advantages.
"Kasi we're always thinking na kailangan maging maingat tayo," he said, citing the November incident in Dasmariñas Village where he came under fire for allegedly ordering the arrest of security guards who barred the exit of his four-car convoy from one of the village's gates.
Binay said he never used his authority against the guards, contrary to earlier reports that he uttered the words "Hindi niyo ba ko kilala?" after he alighted his vehicle.
He also said the guards who barred him from passing through the Banyan Road gate were the same guards who allowed him to enter.
It was also already past 10 p.m. when he entered the village, he added, despite the supposed rule that no vehicle is allowed to pass through the gate after 10 p.m.
"Ito hindi nila sinasabi dahil hindi mabubuo yung storya na sinabi na 'Hindi niyo ba ko kilala?' kasi yun ang sinabi nila na nanggaling sa isang source na pagharap ko raw sa gwardya ang bungad ko 'Hindi niyo ba ko kilala?'" Binay said.
"Syempre mas gusto ng tao yung 'Do you know me?' Mas may lasa yung storya... Madaling gawing pulutan," he added.
The mayor also clarified that he did not came from the house of her sister, Senator Nancy Binay, because the latter does not have a house there in the first place.
He said he just attended a party at a house inside the posh village as a representative of her father, whom he immediately apologized to following the controversy.
But months after the incident, Binay said it has just become a joke in the family.
"Naging katatawanan na lang. Biruan namin sa bahay: 'Yan kasi, punta punta ka dun. Hindi ka naman mukhang taga-village. Nahaharang ka ng gwardiya. Hindi ka nakita. Hindi nakita ng gwardiya,'" he said.
