Pacquiao, Sotto lead UNA slate

MANILA, Philippines - Without fanfare, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) officially announced yesterday its senatorial lineup for next year’s polls.

The lineup consists of boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao; Sen. Vicente Sotto III; former senators Panfilo Lacson, Richard Gordon and Juan Miguel Zubiri; Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez; former Special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas; Parañaque councilor Alma Moreno; Princess Jacel Kiram of the Sultanate of Sulu; veteran broadcaster Rey Langit; labor lawyer Allan Montaño and overseas Filipino workers advocate Susan Ople.

They are one with Vice President Jejomar Binay and running mate Sen. Gregorio Honasan in addressing poverty, hunger and unemployment under a competent, compassionate and healing government, UNA president Navotas City Rep. Tobias Tiangco said in a statement.

“The composition of UNA’s senatorial lineup is illustrated by each candidate’s personal advocacies and the legislative agenda their respective organizations would advance in the Senate,” he said.

 “We are proud to say all UNA senatoriables are committed to pursue worthy priorities in the legislature.” 

The UNA senatorial candidates share the same vision with Binay of a pro-poor and reform-oriented legislative agenda that would advance a responsible and transparent governance, create more job opportunities for the Filipino workforce; address the Filipinos’ need for responsive health, education, and other social services; uphold the rights and welfare of women and children, persons with disabilities and OFWs; improve peace and order, fast-track the delivery of government services, and be energy-independent by 2020 and attract more investments, Tiangco said. 

Meanwhile, the administration coalition believes that its senatorial lineup has an edge over that of UNA’s because of its common advocacy.

“I think the vision of the Team Daang Matuwid is clearer,” Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid spokesman   Ibarra Gutierrez said in an interview yesterday.

“Its causes and advocacies are clear. I do not know what is uniting the team of Vice President Binay.

I believe our senatorial slate will be favored by the voters in the upcoming elections.” 

Members of the administration’s senatorial slate have the track record and platform that they can present to voters, Gutierrez said. – With Alexis Romero