Jacobo Luis

M. Ayala

PS4B MWF 10:00-11:00

The Dark Knight Rises: Jejomar Binays Climb to Power, Influence and Corruption as a template
for Philippine Politics
Beneath the barong and podium, Jejomar Binay is just another man, vulnerable to
comments and criticisms. Binay had attracted the attention of the Senate when allegations of
overpricing of the Makati City Hall Parking Building 2 which according to Atty. Bondal as cited
by Marcelo (2014) was overpriced by 300 percent. This initial investigation lead to the passing
of Senate Resolution No. 826 otherwise known as Overpricing of the 11-Storey New Makati City
Parking Building by Senator Trillanes. These allegations lead to further investigations
particularly in Hacienda Binay located in Rosario, Batangas. However as nothing has been
confirmed, I cannot discuss any claim of corruption, only Binays power, influence and how this
is a template that Politicians in the Philippines can use this to their advantage.
Jejomar Binay finished his elementary education at the Philippine Normal College and
preparatory high school at the University of the Philippines. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts
degree major in Political Science and subsequently a Bachelor of Laws degree at the University
of the Philippines (UP). He passed the bar exams in 1968, and took masteral subjects in public
administration and law in UP and the University of Sto. Tomas, respectively (Biography of
Hon. Jejomar C. Binay, N.D.). Binay is undoubtedly educated, the rest of the Philippines
however is not. Binay used his education to serve the public and the victims of human rights
violations during the Marcos regime and after gaining the rapport of the public through various
avenues such as giving cakes, flowers, consoling mourning families and such, he has amassed
public support in the city of Makati, and even in the Philippines. These acts of gaining support
are the seeds of patronage politics, a prevalent anomaly in the Philippine polity, and potentially
the foundation of corruption.
Patronage politics is rampant in the Philippines making it a cultural norm, however this is
a rather strange concept. Money should not be the basis of who wins an election rather it should
be the capacity of the candidate to run a government to serve the interest of its constituents. A

majority of Philippine politicians either come from or are a political dynasty, business tycoon, or
from show business, all of which gives the candidate access to large sums of money. However
the political arena is not a business to be run for profit, but the Philippine population seems to
believe so, as evidenced by the majority of the Philippine Politicians. The people who rally
against the politicians are aiming the pickets at the wrong person as the person to blame for bad
governance is themselves.
The Philippine populace should be able to see how their personal choice affects the civil
society, and how the society affects them as well. In the Philippine setting, the constituents are
the ones who enable the corruption to persist as they believe that it is the norm and chose the
lesser of evils between candidates. Politicians build up their reputation in order to be this lesser
of evils and win the elections. Binay utilizes all the strategies of a classic corrupt Filipino
Politician and unless the Filipino people realize this, our country is doomed to the cycle of
corruption.
References:
Marcelo, E. (2014, August 20). Makati City parking building overpriced by P2B lawyer.
Retrieved November 15, 2014, from
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/375596/news/nation/makati-city-parking-buildingoverpriced-by-p2b-lawyer
Biography of Hon. Jejomar C. Binay (n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2014, from
http://web.archive.org/web/20110723080545/http://www.makati.gov.ph/portal/contents/city_gov/
organization/admin_services/om/profile/profile.htm