‘Abby Luis Campos’ of Makati: Who’s really running for mayor?

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On the official ballot, Makati mayoral candidate Luis Campos' name is listed as 'CAMPOS, ABBYLUIS,' merging his name with that of his wife, Mayor Abby Binay

If you roam around Makati, you’re sure to spot a poster of “Abby Luis Campos” for mayor.

But the posters actually reflect the name listed on the official ballot, where the incumbent mayor’s husband — who is seeking to succeed her — is registered as “CAMPOS, ABBYLUIS.”

The mayoral battle in Makati is interesting with members of the same family fighting to lead one of the richest cities in the Philippines. Campos is up against another Binay, his sister-in-law Senator Nancy. 

Although he is a three-term congressman, Campos isn’t exactly a household name in Makati. He admitted as much, recalling how critics once dismissed his chances because he didn’t have a famous surname.

“They said, ‘Campos won’t win. He doesn’t have a name.’ Yes, that’s true. I don’t have a famous surname. ‘I am Luis Campos, I don’t carry a heavy surname, but what I bring is service,'” Campos said in Filipino in his campaign rally in Barangay Poblacion.

Since he couldn’t lean on the powerful Binay name, his workaround was to include the name of his wife, Abby Binay — Makati’s outgoing three-term mayor — in his campaign materials and official ballot.

His slogan: “Ipagpagtuloy ang better na serbisyo!” (Continue the better service.) During her husband’s campaign rally, Abby reiterated this message.

“Kaya kung gusto ‘nyo po ng pagpapatakbo ng isang Abby Binay at kung gusto ‘nyo po matuloy ang patakbong ganito, kailangan ‘nyo pong iboto ang isang Luis Campos,” Abby said.

The Binay family’s grip on Makati runs deep. At least four Binays have held the city’s top post. It started with patriarch Jejomar Binay, who later became vice president. Then came matriarch Elenita — the city’s first female mayor — followed by their son Junjun, and now their daughter Abby, who is also term-limited and is now eyeing a spot in the Senate. 

The Binay family has long been divided because of their personal political ambitions. In 2019, siblings Abby and Junjun squared off for the mayoral position. Abby won in that race.

During that election, Abby’s only family ally was her father, Jejomar, who ran for a congressional seat. Meanwhile, Junjun had the support of the rest of the family, including their mother, Elenita, and his sisters, Anne and Nancy.

Under Abby’s control?

On social media, there are allegations that Abby controls her husband.

“May bago silang labas ngayon sa social media na ‘yung asawa ko raw nagtatago sa palda ko. Nakapantalon naman ako,” Abby said in jest during her husband’s campaign rally.

But beyond the jokes, there’s a deeper narrative at play. Critics have questioned Abby’s decision to keep the Binay surname, instead of adopting her husband’s. She said that it’s so sexist.

She explained that as her father’s “favorite child,” her father had asked Campos to allow her to keep her maiden name, which he did without hesitation. “My husband is a feminist,” Abby said proudly, pointing out that he even passed a bill allowing married women to retain their maiden names.

Abby also pointed out that her passport and ID still bear the Binay surname.

But there’s another narrative circulating, according to Abby, that portrays Campos as the one controlling her. She, however, sarcastically called out her critics to pick a side, asking them to decide which story they want to push.

In the same political rally, Binay said voters should choose their candidates not on the basis of surnames, but performance and platforms. But if names shouldn’t matter, why did Luis use Abby’s name on the official ballot in his bid for Makati’s top post?

With just a few days left before elections, the Makati race is shaping up to be a tight one between Luis and Nancy. Regardless of who comes out on top, it seems that Makati’s next leader will likely still be from the same Binay family. – Rappler.com