TACLOBAN CITY — Senatorial candidate and Makati Mayor Abby Binay urged voters to focus on the capabilities of candidates rather than their political affiliations, emphasizing the importance of evaluating what they can contribute as senators.

Speaking on the potential political fallout from the arrest and detention of former president Rodrigo Duterte in The Hague, Binay called for voters to look past partisan divides.

“Go beyond whether we are pro-Marcos or pro-Duterte. What do we stand for? What could we bring to the table? It shouldn’t be just, ‘ah, because you’re associated with this person, I don’t like you,’” Binay said.

Binay also expressed confidence in the fairness of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in addressing the charges against Duterte, who faces accusations of crimes against humanity related to his controversial anti-drug campaign during his tenure as Davao City mayor and later as president.

“I think we have to trust the ICC. We have to trust the process,” she said. “We should give the ICC a chance. We know that it will be fair. No one is saying he’s guilty; that’s why there’s a process. That’s why there’s a trial. Let’s give it a chance.”

Reflecting on the current political climate, Binay drew parallels to the intense debates over the Reproductive Health Law during her time in the House of Representatives.

“It’s like when we were debating the RH Law. It was either you were pro-RH or pro-Life. It’s similar to what’s happening now. It goes beyond that. Yes, we are part of the administration, but we are individuals within a group,” she explained.

Binay emphasized that, regardless of political differences, the goal should always be to serve the people.

“At the end of the day, what we want is what we can offer to our fellow citizens,” she said.