Binay set to convene UNA

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay is scheduled to convene today his “opposition” United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) to discuss preparations for the May 2013 elections.

Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco, UNA secretary-general, yesterday said other UNA leaders including former President Joseph Estrada and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile would attend the meeting.

He said prospective senatorial candidates of the alliance have also been invited.

Among them are Sen. Gregorio Honasan, former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito of San Juan, a son of Estrada, Rep. Mitos Magsaysay of Zambales, and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

UNA is a coalition of Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino and PDP-Laban, which Binay chairs.

The vice president formed UNA principally for the purpose of fielding candidates against the administration ticket in 2013. He also intends to use it for his presidential candidacy in 2016.

Binay is meeting with his group two days after the ruling Liberal Party (LP) rejected UNA’s overtures for an alliance and the fielding of a single senatorial ticket in next year’s elections.

According to some leaders of the Binay camp, they were willing to have a 7-5 or 8-4 ticket sharing in favor of the ruling party.

Estrada and Tiangco had earlier accused the LP of “pirating” their senatorial candidates, including Senators Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda and Alan Peter Cayetano.

The three senators will be part of the common senatorial slate of the planned coalition among the ruling LP, the Nacionalista Party of Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), which is identified with billionaire businessman and San Miguel Corp. chairman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., an uncle of President Aquino, who is LP’s titular head.

Even if UNA has lost many potential candidates to the ruling party, Tiangco said their alliance could still field a complete 12-member senatorial ticket.

He said other possible “opposition” candidates are former senators Ernesto Maceda and Francisco Tatad, and Nancy Binay, a daughter of the vice president.

UNA leaders and their candidates are expected to attend Gov. Garcia’s “state of the province address” on Friday in Cebu.

The province is a bailiwick of the Garcias. Gwendolyn succeeded her father, former governor and now Rep. Pablo Garcia. Her brother, Pablo John, is also a Cebu congressman.

Erap hits Lacierda

Former President Estrada urged presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda to shut up and stop being arrogant to UNA.

Estrada said UNA, through his son San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito, proposed in good faith the creation of a “super coalition” by having UNA and LP link up for the 2013 midterm elections.

“This Lacierda should shut up. He does not know what he is talking about. It was just an offer. It was not yet taken up in UNA’s executive committee meeting. Lacierda is too boastful. He is too arrogant when he is not even an electable official. He should shut up,” Estrada said. With Jose Rodel Clapano