Hagedorn not joining UNA

MANILA, Philippines - Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn, an independent senatorial candidate, said yesterday he is not joining the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

“I have decided to remain as an independent candidate,” he said in a television interview.

He said before UNA decided to drop the three Team PNoy candidates it had adopted, former President Joseph Estrada, a leader of UNA, had asked him if he wanted to join the opposition alliance’s senatorial ticket.

After UNA dropped its three guest candidates – re-electionist Senators Francis Escudero and Loren Legarda, and Grace Poe – Hagedorn said Nancy Binay, a senatorial candidate of UNA, and Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco, the opposition slate’s campaign manager, announced that the coalition has not invited anyone to fill any of the three vacant slots.

“I was hurt by those statements. They made it appear that we were trying to present ourselves as replacements for the guest candidates they dropped. Maybe, UNA has a communication problem,” he added.

Asked about his style of leadership as Puerto Princesa City mayor, Hagedorn said, “Sometimes, you have to use strong-arm tactics, but we do not resort to salvaging (killing) criminals.”

When compared to former Davao City mayor and incumbent Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, he said, “In some ways, yes, but we do not employ vigilante style. We run the city in God-fearing ways.”

Hagedorn denied allegations that he uses his power as mayor to corner some businesses in his city by not issuing business permits to competitors.

“I am not the one signing those permits. It’s my city administrator,” he said.

He admitted that his family owns two of the three Jollibee stores in Puerto Princesa.

Jollibee Foods Corp. runs the third store, he said.

Hagedorn also said he believes that former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes was involved in the killing of environmentalist-broadcaster Gerardo Ortega.

“Why is he in hiding if he is not guilty? If you are innocent, you should be brave as a lion. All the evidence points to his involvement. If he is not guilty, he should come out and prove his innocence,” he said. 

Evangelist Eddie Villanueva, senatorial bet of Bangon Pilipinas, said he was invited by UNA leaders to join their slate after he made a mark in the recent popularity surveys.

“But I courteously declined because I want to preserve my moral ascendancy that I’m the most qualified peacemaker in the coming Senate,” Villanueva said.

He believes that there is a need for a genuine peacemaker in the Senate to accelerate the passage of important bills and laws that can accelerate economic development of the country.

“I will be bringing moral leadership,” Villanueva said in his campaign sortie yesterday in Zamboanga City.