[WATCH] Binay-Pacquiao tandem for 2016 elections!

Some members of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) are pushing for a Jejomar Binay-Manny Pacquiao tandem for the presidential elections in 2016, a report on “24 Oras” said on Monday.

Vice President Binay seemed open to the idea, noting how Pacquiao has shown his willingness to help and leadership as representative of Sarangani.

“At ang importante sa lahat maka-Diyos at makabayan,” added Binay of Pacquiao.

Pacquiao, for his part, said the idea has not crossed his mind yet.

But the issue could be moot, since Pacquiao would not meet the requirement to run for the second highest position in the land by 2016.

Those who intend to run for President or Vice President must be at least 40 years old on the day of the election, according to Sections 2 and 3, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution. Pacquiao who was born on December 17, 1978 is only 35 years old, and will only be 37 years old by the May 2016 elections.

Welcoming Binay

Pacquiao took a break from training for his upcoming fight against American boxer Chris Algieri on November 23 to personally welcome Binay to General Santos City. Binay traveled to the city to distribute housing units in his role as the head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

When asked if welcoming Binay is a show of support amid controversies facing the Vice President, Pacquiao said, “Bilang congressman, representative ng Sarangani Province, tungkulin namin na salubungin ang pangalawang pinakamataas sa Pilipinas sa lugar natin. Karangalan natin dahil hindi lang tayo nabisita kundi nabigyan pa tayo ng mga project dito, especially mga housing o pabahay.”

But in his speech at Lagao National High School where Binay was also present, Pacquiao commented, “Maraming mga isyung lumabas about sa ating Vice President pero isa lang ang sasabihin ko sa inyo. Ang mabuting tao, ang mabuting pulitiko hindi marunong manira ng kapwa.”

The two then gave away t-shirts printed with Binay’s face and the words “Kay Binay gaganda ang buhay.”

Before the 2013 elections, Pacquiao left the Liberal Party and joined Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), of which Binay used to be a member of. PDP-Laban was then part of UNA. After the election, Binay left PDP-Laban, which also split with UNA.

UNA is also reportedly considering senator Jinggoy Estrada, who is currently in jail in connection with the pork barrel scam, and business tycoon Manny Pangilinan as a running mate for Binay. Estrada has already expressed his eagerness to be Binay’s running mate while Pangilinan shut down the idea because running a business is way different from running for office, he said.