Makati City Philippines. Well-known music maestro Jim Paredes of the Apo Hiking Society led anti-Jejomar Binay marchers during a rally to stop the Philippine Vice President from running in the 2016 presidential elections.
Paredes and his family migrated to Australia many years ago. They have been residents of Glenwood NSW since then.
The protest was held a day before Makati City’s celebration of its 345th Foundation Day where a grand parade dubbed “Sampiro de Makati Festival” was held.
With no permit, the rallyists assembled at the Makati Freedom Park and walked along the pedestrian lanes of Ayala Avenue and other busy streets until the statue of the late Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo De Roxas.
“It (the rally) will be insignificant if not in Makati. It has to be here,” said Paredes.
Dubbed as #StopBinayWalk,” Paredes has expressed disgust over the egotism of Binay “who thinks he does not have to answer serious allegations of corruptions against him.”
“We walk our talk because we believe that no one is above the law, we believe that public servants should be the foremost exemplars of humility and integrity.
“We walk our talk because all men and women in power must be held to account and should be ready to prove their innocence before God and country,” said Paredes.
“We expected only about 200 people to show up but we were shocked that those people also brought other people with them,” Paredes told reporters.
Binay is facing plunder and graft charges in the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the construction of Makati City Hall Building II, allegedly overpriced at P2.3 billion.
“He has refused to show up in Senate hearings. I think as a possible presidential candidate, he should at least answer the charges against him,” Paredes added.
Binay’s son, “Junjun” Binay, is mayor of Makati. His daughter, Abigail Binay-Campos holds the seat of Makati’s second district in the House of Representatives. Another daughter, Nancy Sombillo Binay, was unknown but was elected to the Senate in 2013.