Jejomar Cabauatan Binay Sr. served as the 13th vice president of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016. Born in Manila in 1942, his early career as a human rights lawyer during the Marcos dictatorship preceded a long tenure in local governance, most notably as the mayor of Makati for six separate terms.
Early Life and Education
Born in Paco, Manila, on November 11, 1942, he was the son of librarian Diego Medrano Binay and teacher Lourdes Gatan Cabauatan. After losing his parents at age nine, he was raised by his uncle, Ponciano Binay. His academic trajectory included studies at the University of the Philippines, where he earned a political science degree in 1962 and a law degree in 1967. He later attended the National Defense College of the Philippines, the University of the Philippines Open University, and the John F. Kennedy School of Government.
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During the 1970s, he engaged in legal aid work by establishing the Lupon ng mga Manananggol ng Bayan in 1970. In 1973, he faced imprisonment at the Ipil Reception Center. Following his release, he joined the Free Legal Assistance Group and served as chairman of its Metro Manila chapter. He was also a founding member of the Movement for Brotherhood, Integrity and Nationalism, Inc., known as MABINI, alongside other legal professionals.
Governance in Makati
His local political career began in 1986 when President Corazon Aquino appointed him officer-in-charge of Makati following the death of Mayor Nemesio Yabut. He transitioned to roles as the officer-in-charge governor of Metro Manila and chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Elected mayor of Makati in 1988, he served multiple terms until 2010. His administration saw Makati attain the status of a highly urbanized city in 1995. During his tenure, he famously barricaded the Makati City Hall in 2006 to resist a suspension order from the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Vice Presidency and Later Career
In 2010, he secured the vice presidency of the Philippines after receiving 41.65% of the vote. Throughout this term, he chaired the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and acted as a presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers until his resignation in June 2015. He later pursued a senate position in the 2022 general elections, earning over 13 million votes but failing to secure a seat.
Fast facts
- Born: 1942, Manila
- Vice President of the Philippines: 2010-2016
- Political Party: Coalition of various political movements
- Education: University of the Philippines
- Awards: Bronze Wolf Award (2018)
- Occupations: Lawyer, politician, badminton executive
Questions readers ask
What years did Jejomar Binay serve as Mayor of Makati?
He served as mayor from 1988 to 1998 and again from 2001 to 2010.
Why did he resign as a presidential adviser in 2015?
He resigned due to differences with President Benigno Aquino and members of his cabinet.
