Banyan gate incident goes viral

December 20,2013

MANILA, Philippines—A 15-minute video showing Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay and his four-car convoy attempting to pass through a restricted gate of a posh subdivision went viral on Thursday, registering nearly 100,000 views on the video-sharing website YouTube just eight hours after posting.

The video provoked anger and dismay among netizens, many of them saying the incident showed the “arrogance” of the Makati mayor and his sister Sen. Nancy Binay, who was also on the video. The two officials are children of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“The #binay siblings should take a crash course on humility. Being a public servant doesn’t mean you can do anything to your begging,” netizen @chinkit said on Twitter.

“To be a good leader you need to be a good follower,” netizen Alvin Celestial Apostol posted on the Inquirer Facebook.

“They apparently think they are the law. Ngek!” said netizen @beautycocoon.

“What can I say? They’re Binays,” said netizen @RoadieFernandez.

“In Canada where I live now, the laws are obeyed. There should not be any discussion whatsoever. They are not allowed to enter, they turn their backs and there is no need for discussion. Power goes to their head, these politicians who are arrogant and believe nobody should disobey them,” netizen esgstar posted on Inquirer Facebook.

An Inquirer source said Binay also ordered the arrest of the three village guards for refusing Binay’s convoy access to the gate because of the village’s security rules. The Makati police chief had denied this, saying the guards voluntarily joined the police to the station.

“Wow good job Mayor Binay. So because guards don’t let you pass through a restricted gate you have them arrested? Wow,” said netizen @ginoboi.

“I can buy you, your guards, and this village!” said netizen @ANDREWdecastro, parodying the infamous quote made by actress Anne Curtis in a drunken fit.

“If #Binay can’t respect simple village rules, how much more our national laws?” said netizen @kintoy.

“Wow! Punishing people for doing their jobs? Way to go Binay!” said netizen @sahmylicious.

Amazing guards

Others praised the guards for standing their ground.

“Wow, there’s video of the alleged ‘Binay vs Dasma’ incident? Amazing how guards stood their ground,” posted TV sports anchor @tjmanotoc.

“I’d be proud kung ganon kahigpit ang guards because that means maganda ang security service nila which is what companies pay for (I’d be proud if guards are that strict because that means the security service which companies pay for is good),” netizen @olojyu noted.

Binay-Roxas rivalry

Others couldn’t help but poke fun at the Jojo Binay-Mar Roxas rivalry, a throwback to the 2010 elections where now Interior Secretary Mar Roxas lost to Jojo Binay, the mayor’s father.

“Love how someone said, nakapagpahinga si Mar! (Love how someone said, Mar got his much-needed rest) I love PH politics. Sino na sa 2016 niyan? Sad to say, sila pa rin (Who’s in the running for 2016? Sad to say, it’s still them),” said netizen @jrtibster.

Vice President Binay’s supposed plan to run for President in 2016 was not spared from the online brickbats.

“Noynoy in 2010: ‘Matuwid na daan (Straight path).’ Ang mga Binay in 2016: ‘Amin ang daan (The road is ours),’” said netizen @Normankonrad.

“Oh em gee, ang hirap pumili (it’s difficult to choose)—Mar Roxas or Binay for Prez in 2016,” posted @noelsacay.

A netizen said the Binays could learn a lesson or two from actress Anne Curtis who apologized after it was reported on social media that she slapped show-biz colleagues after she had one too many.

“I think @annecurtissmith would have handled the #binay incident better. She certainly did with her club thing. She apologized, then moved on,” netizen @kutitots said.—Ramon H. Royandoyan

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