After Mothers for Change (MOCHA) first nominee Mocha Uson asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday, May 4 to check on the health status of former Vice President and senatorial aspirant Jejomar Binay, Binay's camp hit back at Uson and called her petition "laughable, pathetic, and desperate."
In the two-page document, Uson said that she is concerned about the possibility that a leading candidate for the Senate may no longer be capable of fulfilling his duties to the people and the Republic after he is elected. She was referring to Binay.
According to her, Binay is reportedly “in poor health” and was not able to participate fully in this campaign period. He has also been absent in many rallies and largely been unseen and unheard of during the entire campaign period.
"Sa kasalukuyan po ay nasa Isabela pa rin si dating VP Jojo Binay at nangangampanya. Kahapon, May 3, nag-ikot sya sa Cagayan at sa mga bayan ng Isabela. Nagpunta sya sa mga palengke, nagpa-selfie sa mga tao, at kumausap ng local officials (VP Jojo Binay is in Isabela for his campaign sortie. Yesterday, May 3, he went around Cagayan and several areas of Isabela. He also went to the market, had selfies with the people, and spoke with local officials)," Binay's spokesman Joey Salgado said in a statement.
"Noon naman pong May 4, nagpunta si dating VP Binay sa Davao City at nag-courtesy call kay vice presidential candidate Mayor Sara Duterte. May 3 naman po, inikot ni dating VP Binay ang mga probinsya sa SOCCSKSARGEN, kumausap ng mga kababayan natin sa mga palengke, at nakipag-pulong sa local officials. Bago po nito ay nasa Pampanga si dating VP Binay kasama si dating Presidente at Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (Last May 4, VP Binay went to Davao City and paid a courtesy call on vice presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. On May 3, VP Binay went around the provinces of SOCCSKSARGEN, spoke with the people in the market, and had a meeting with local officials. Before this, Binay went to Pampanga together with former President and Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo)," he added.
Salgado said that ever since the start of the campaign period, Binay has been busy in his sortie and added that he does not join the rallies of presidential candidates because that is their agreement as a guest senatorial candidate.
He also urged Uson to visit Binay's Facebook page to see his campaign activities.
"This so-called petition is laughable, pathetic, and desperate. Nakakalungkot lang na merong mga gustong siraan ang pangalan ni VP Binay, na malinaw ang track record ng paglilingkod sa ating mga kababayan, dahil pasok sya sa Magic 12 sa senatorial race at sinusuportahan sya ng Iglesia Ni Cristo, kilalang political leaders at local officials, at ng marami nating kababayan (It's sad that there are people who smears dirt on VP Binay's name. Binay has a clear track record in serving the public, he's also included in the Magic 12 of senatoriables being supported by the Iglesia ni Cristo, renowned political leaders, local officials, and our countrymen) Salgado said.