Local mainstream news and social media are currently abuzz about a recorded video showing Makati Mayor Junjun Binay and his “incident” with security guards of the posh Dasmarinas Village Banyan gate weeks ago.
In that video, originally reported and uploaded by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the mayor’s convoy appears to force its way through the closed gate despite resistance from the guards who are implementing the village’s policy of not allowing vehicles to pass through it after 10 p.m. due to security reasons.
Several netizens have dubbed the incident as the Dasmarinas Binay Gate scandal, in reference to the Watergate scandal that rocked the administration and ultimately led to the resignation of US President Richard Nixon.
Dasmarinas BinayGate Scandal
Watch the video here:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojFGo9RN5mY[/youtube]
Several press releases and interviews have been initiated by the Binay camp defending their actions. Regardless of their pronouncements, the following controversial scenes seem to be explicit in the 15-minute video:
- one member of the convoy initiating an altercation with the guards (scenes 3:12 to 3:24 of the video);
- an aide cocking a gun (scene 3:32)
- another aide pushing one of the guards while the latter is talking and explaining (scene 4:07);
- another aide loading a magazine into a gun (5:30 to 5:40);
- another aide pulling the arm of one of the guards (12:30)
Watching the 15-minute video, you’d wonder why the mayor and his people would spend those precious minutes arguing with the guards when they could have simply turned around and drive for 2-3 more minutes just to use a different exit gate.
Power tripping? Sense of entitlement? You decide.
But contrast this with the cases of three other Filipino politicians — Cebu governor Hilario Davide III, Davao city mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista — who also had their encounters with security guards or traffic personnel dutifully doing their jobs.
Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III barred by guards from entering building
In July 2013, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III went to the Palace of Justice at 7 a.m. to meet a judge for breakfast but was barred by security guards from entering the building because “only employees of the Palace of Justice are allowed to enter before 8 a.m.”
Instead of forcing his way, Gov. Davide decided not introduce himself and just left.
“They are right because I’m not an employee of the court,” Davide said.
Read the complete story from Cebu Daily News here.
Davao City Mayor Duterte issued ticket for traffic violation
Tough-talking Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City was flagged down by traffic enforcers in September 2009 and was issued a ticket for not wearing the required protective helmet while driving his motorcycle in Davao City.
One of the traffic enforcers explained what happened: “We flagged down the two vehicles and it was only when it came near us that we realized it was Mayor Duterte. I told him he was being arrested for not wearing helmet because he asked me what his violation was.”
The mayor did not resist when his driver’s licence was confiscated.
“He did not scold us or ask us not to apprehend him. He was even the one who insisted that he be ticketed. He wanted to be treated just like any other traffic violator,” the traffic enforcer said.
The mayor’s executive assistant describes the mayor: “[Duterte] would always insist that he would be checked and frisked. He would even take off his shoes if required in airports. He does not want to be exempted even if some airport personnel would usually say he could proceed without being checked.”
The complete story from the Philippine Star is reported here.
Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista caught beating the red light
In January 2011, QC mayor Herbert Bautista was driving his car and went through a red light at the corner of Kamuning Road in Quezon City. A traffic enforcer accosted Bautista for such violation.
“He only recognized me when I spoke and acknowledged the [traffic] violation,” the mayor said.
Bautista asked the traffic enforcer to come see him in his office at city hall the following day. The traffic enforcer, however, did not show up for fear of being reprimanded.
Instead during the flag-raising ceremony at city hall, the mayor acknowledged the traffic enforcer and promised a promotion and a cash reward of P10,000.
More details in this Philippine Daily Inquirer story.
These news reports do not necessarily conclude that Davide, Duterte and Bautista are good local government leaders but their stories prove that they were able to handle their own incidents with security guards/traffic enforcers a lot better than Binay and his camp did with the guards of Dasmarinas Village.
What’s your take on the Dasmarinas BinayGate scandal? Vote in the following poll or post a comment below!
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