Junjun says willing to reach out to Abby

MANILA (UPDATE) - Is reconciliation still possible between Makati Mayor Abby Binay and her brother, mayoral candidate Junjun Binay, after the elections?

For the incumbent mayor, any talk of healing will have to wait since she believes her brother's camp continued to spread lies against her up to the last minute.

"Ayan na naman, reconciliation, hindi pa nga tapos 'yung ano nila, 'yung operations nila against me. You can't keep on asking about reconciliation because even up to today, they are spreading lies about me so it is rather too premature to say that let's reconcile. Hindi pa nga tapos 'yung araw,” she said.

She added that recently, a tabloid report said she had been disqualified from the May 2019 elections.

"O di ba hanggang sa huli, photo finish, naninira pa rin? So marami kaming pinanghahawakan na ebidensya na hanggang sa huli, sinisiraan pa rin nila ako," she added.

(Even until the end they are still maligning me. We have plenty of evidence to prove that they are still maligning me until the end.)

Junjun meanwhile said he is set on fixing things within their family, most especially to honor their parents.

“Actually si Ate Ab lang naman ang kailangan namin ayusin kasi kaming magkakapatid ever since naman, we always try to reach out," he said.

(We just have to patch things out with Ate Ab because we always try to reach out as siblings.)

"My mom and my dad, hindi naman nila gusto na nagkakahiwalay-hiwalay kami. Gusto ng nanay, gusto rin naman ng tatay na makita ang mga anak nila na magkakaayos,” he added.

(My mom and my dad, they don't want us to be separated. They want to see their children together.)

Junjun said there is no question on who will make the first move towards reconciliation since it has always been him and his other siblings.

Abby believes that "Makatizens" or the voters of Makati are not "bobotantes" (stupid voters) who believe fake news.

Win or lose, she said she is thankful for how she campaigned.

"Manalo, matalo, we did our best. We will accept the results. Kung manalo, magpapasalamat. Kung matalo, magpapasalamat pa rin ako," she said.

(Win or lose, we did our best. We will accept the results. If we win, we'll be grateful. If we lose, I'll still say thank you.)

Abby and Junjun are in a bitter rivalry after the latter decided to run against his sister for Makati's top post.

Abby earlier claimed Junjun broke an agreement that he would not run for the business district's top post.

• In tears, Abby Binay appeals to Junjun: Give me a chance

Junjun, a former mayor of Makati, however, said there was public clamor for him to return.

• FULL INTERVIEW: Junjun Binay faces off with sister Abby for Makati mayor post

The Binay patriarch, former Vice-President Jejomar Binay, has opted to side with Abby while another Binay sibling, Senator Nancy Binay, sided with Junjun. On Monday, Sen. Binay said she is still hoping that her brother and sister would one day settle their differences.

• Simula't simula pa': Jejomar nilinaw na si Abby ang suportado

PREMATURE

Abby was able to cast her vote with her husband, reelectionist Congressman Luis Campos, in San Jose Elementary School past 10 a.m. Monday.

Before voting, a vote-counting machine in her precinct malfunctioned due to paper jam.

Her father also experienced problems with the VCM, prompting him to complain before the poll body. The Comelec later allowed him to fill up a new ballot and feed it to a new VCM.

• Ex-VP Binay votes anew after first ballot rejected by machine

Abby said she is hopeful the incident was isolated. "Sana maging mahaba ang pasensya ng mga botante kasi pag nainip kayo, umalis kayo, hindi kayo bumoto, sayang ang boto ninyo,” she said.

For her, she said reports of machine malfunctions are not yet alarming since the election had just begun.

"It’s too premature to say. Unang-una wala pa naman tayong kalahating araw. Usually ang problema talaga sa umaga kasi doon nakikita 'yung mga glitches. I think it's too premature to say that the integrity of the elections will be questionable,” she said.