It’s Bongbong or Gringo as Binay’s VP, sources say

MANILA, Philippines - Either Ferdinand Marcos Jr. or Gregorio Honasan would be the running mate of Vice President Jejomar Binay in next year’s elections.

Its selection committee continues to talk with the two senators, according to sources within the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

The party is likely to announce Binay’s running mate either on Monday or Tuesday.

Binay has yet to name his running mate with only nine days before the filing of the Certificates of Candidacy (COCs).

The possibility of a Binay-Marcos tandem has risen “from 91.5 percent to  93 percent,”  the Vice President said on Thursday.

Despite Honasan’s earlier pronouncement that he is not keen in running for vice president, Binay is still considering the senator, who is UNA vice president, sources said.

He prefers to work behind the scenes and help the party in the coming elections, Honasan said.

Honasan is UNA’s “Plan B” should Marcos decline its offer, reports said.

A Binay-Marcos tandem has the support of Marcos loyalist leader Oliver Lozano, a founding  chairman of the Kilusang Bagong Liwanag, which affiliated with the pro-Marcos Pagkakaisa ng Pilipino Para sa  Pilipinas (PPP).

“Binay will be the rallying point for people power which is the answer to computer cheating,”Lozano said.

However, PPP president Jose Malvar Villegas and PPP chairman Vicente Millora said they will support Davao City Mayor Rodrugo Duterte and OFW Family Club Rep Roy Señeres if they decide to join the presidential race.

PPP support will remain if Marcos decides to run as the vice presidential running mate of either Duterte or Binay, Villegas said.

Meanwhile, due to an “emergency meeting,” Binay canceled yesterday his visit to Ozamiz City, where he would have led UNA’s Mindanao-wide party launch and oath-taking ceremony at the Moresco Multi-Purpose Center in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental in the afternoon.

Binay was supposed to lead the inauguration of a senior citizen’s building in Bernad Subdivision in Barangay Aguada.

He sent his wife Elenita to the event, Binay said in an interview over radio station dxOC. – With Perseus Echeminada