MANILA, Philippines - If there is something that officials of the administration Liberal Party and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) have in common, it is their stand against having common candidates in their senatorial slates.
Sen. Franklin Drilon, LP stalwart, said officials of the LP coalition with the Nacionalista Party (NP) led by Sen. Manuel Villar and Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) under businessman Eduardo Cojuangco are still working on their list.
Drilon said it is “too early” to determine if the coalition will allow guest candidates.
“We don’t know. President Erap said he does not want guest candidates. That’s the policy they’ll adopt. We agree on that,” Drilon said, referring to former President Joseph Estrada.
Apart from Estrada, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has been vocal that only members of the coalition parties should be tapped to run for national posts.
Drilon was mum when asked about the dilemma of re-electionist Senators Loren Legarda, Gregorio Honasan and Francis Escudero as well as Rep. Jack Enrile, who are reportedly being wooed by the two coalitions to be part of their slate.
“We are talking about alliances, party alliances. That is a matter to be decided as we finalize the coalition,” he said.
Drilon issued the statement amid talks that the LP is reconsidering the names in their original LP senatorial list in favor of the “winnable” candidates, which would purportedly come from other political parties and even the UNA.
He revealed that Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada and former Senator Jamby Madrigal are part of the “long list” of LP senatorial bets.
“That is a long list; many names are there. As we get near October, we will have to assess it,” he said.
Drilon revealed that there are no fixed slots yet to be given to each coalition partner.
“There are no fixed numbers. That’s under discussion,” Drilon said.
The Villar-led NP is reportedly seeking four slots to include his wife Cynthia, re-electionist Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV, and ex-Surigao Rep. Ace Barbers.
Trillanes took his oath with the NP last Sunday.