MANILA - Former Vice President Jejomar Binay said Wednesday he was hopeful politics would not destroy of his family, with 2 of his children running for his former post as mayor of Makati City.

Former Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay is challenging the incumbent, Abigail Binay-Campos. The patriarch was Makati City mayor for 20 years until he was elected vice president in 2010.

"Ang ina-appeal ko, 'yung mga nagdadasal, sana wag masira, mabiyak o maapektuhan ang pamilya namin dahil sa politika," the Binay patriarch told reporters.

(I am appealing to those who are praying, that our family would not be destroyed, divided or affected by politics.)

The Binay siblings bickered in public in the weeks leading to their filing of certificates of candidacy. Binay Jr. said his older sister failed to sustain the family's brand of people-centered leadership.

Binay-Campos told her brother that he should settle his graft cases first before running for public office.

• Binay Vs. Binay: Why this rift runs deep

The former vice president earlier said he was not taking sides and instead asked Makati voters to choose their leader.

• 'Let the people of Makati decide': Ex-VP Binay won't choose between Abby, Junjun

The elder Binay is running for Makati first district representative under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) alongside Binay-Campos. Binay Jr. is running for mayor under a separate local party, UNA sa Makati.

The former vice president refused to directly label his only son as part of the opposition, saying: "Binay yun... anak ko pa rin 'yun."

(He is still a Binay. He is still my son.)

The former vice president belied "speculations" that he would drop his Congressional bid later this month and run for Makati mayor to settle the family dispute.

"Sa amin walang mangyayaring substitution," he said."Basta ako sa Congress, period."

(There will be no substitution among us. I will run for Congress, period.)

• Ex-VP Binay says he's not seeking House seat to become Speaker

The elder Binay said he was against proposals to ban political dynasties, adding in jest that he was the patriarch of one.

"Bakit lalagyan natin ng prohibition 'yung mga qualified?" he said. "Ang importante ang kandidato ay qualified hindi because of relationship."

(Why should we prohibit qualified candidates from running for public office? What is important is that the candidate is qualified not because of his relationship.)

Binay's son-in-law, Luis Campos, is running for Makati second district representative. Binay's eldest daughter, Nancy, is a re-electionist senator.

The Binay matriarch, former Makati Mayor Elenita Binay, earlier said she wanted the family to "leave politics."

• Binay matriarch Elenita wants family to leave politics, Junjun says