UNA solidifying forces at the Senate

MANILA, Philippines - Amid the lobbying for prime Senate committees for the 16th Congress, senators belonging to the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) on Friday vowed to work as one bloc as they prepare for their role as part of the new Senate minority next month.

The group made the pact during a meeting on Thursday night, which was attended by Vice President Jejomar Binay, acting Senate President Jinggoy Estrada, Senate majority leader Vicente Sotto III, Senator Gregorio Honasan, and Senators-elect Nancy Binay and Jose Victor “JV” Ejercito.

Out of the UNA senatorial slate, only Honasan, Ejercito and Nancy were lucky enough to enter the Magic 12 in the last May elections. Sotto is a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), but he is allied with resigned Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile, Estrada and Honasan.

“We agreed to be a solid bloc and we will welcome any other [senator] who may wish to join [us],” one of the UNA stalwarts told The Star.

Other UNA top leaders, former president and now Manila Mayor-elect Joseph Estrada and Enrile, were conspicuously absent during the meeting. Enrile instead sent a representative, the source said.

In another interview, Jinggoy confirmed that the Vice President joined the meeting as they assessed the results of the last elections and how their alliance will strategize at least in the next three years.

“We have agreed to be part of a constructive opposition. We will not be destructive,” Jinggoy said.

Jinggoy said that he and his party mates, including his half-brother JV, will be part of the “solid six”.

Estrada dispelled rumors that JV might join the majority group which is expected to be led by Sen. Franklin Drilon, who is said to be President Aquino’s bet for Senate President.

Jinggoy, meanwhile, said that they have accepted that the positions of Senate President pro-tempore and majority leader will go to administration senators.

“We do not have any business there (since we are going to be part of the minority),” Jinggoy said.

The acting Senate President, meanwhile, said that “everything is possible” in terms of the designation of Senate officers and the distribution of Senate committees since it's still several weeks before the opening of the next Congress.

Meanwhile, Jinggoy declined to comment on reports that siblings Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano are getting the posts of Senate President pro=tempore and majority leader.

Following Enrile’s footsteps, Sotto resigned as majority leader effective June 30.