Former senator Agapito “Butz” Aquino Sunday disclosed that he is still courting the son of Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay to be his running mate for the 2010 local elections in the financial district.

Although Councilor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay has already confirmed his tandem with Enrico “Rico” Puno, Aquino said he remains optimistic that the councilor will reconsider his offer, saying theirs will be a tandem to beat.

“What I really wanted is for him to agree to be my vice mayor. I hope sometime this week, he would reconsider his candidacy for the mayoralty race,” Aquino said.

The 68-year-old younger brother of the slain Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. is one of the contenders of the 32-year-old Binay to the post his father will be vacating next year. Other mayoralty candidates for Makati City are incumbent Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, lawyer Erwin Genuino, and a certain businessman by the name of Edmundo Tagalog.

Councilor Binay was earlier paired with Mercado but the vice mayor later on left their tandem and pledged allegiance with the Nacionalista Party of Senator Manuel Villar. The development forced the councilor to form his own slate for PDP-Laban and run for the mayoralty race.

Although Aquino has been an ally of Mayor Binay since the administration of former President Cory Aquino, he shared the sentiments of critics who earlier expressed doubts on the ability and experience of the younger Binay to take the helm of the city government, which his father has held for at least 20 years.

“Bilib ako sa kanya, not as a mayor but as a vice mayor. I believe he will compliment me,” said Aquino who has served as Makati congressman from 1998 to 2007 and senator from 1987 to 1995.

The younger Binay, on the other hand, is serving his last term as councilor after holding the chairmanship of the Sangguniang Kabataan for nine years.

When asked what would happen to Puno if Binay decides to run with him, Aquino said he will adopt Binay’s slate, adding that “someone has to give way.”