MANILA, Philippines - The ruling Liberal Party (LP) is not intimidated by the move of PDP-Laban of Vice President Jejomar Binay and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of former President Joseph Estrada to join forces for the 2013 elections, Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada said yesterday.
“It is the right of political parties to form coalitions if it is in within their interests,” Tañada said. “The LP may form its own coalition with other political parties if the other political parties agree with the agenda of reform as espoused by PNoy (President Aquino),” he said. The PDP-Laban-PMP coalition is called United Alliance or UNA, a play on the Filipino word for “first.”
The two parties had in the past joined forces under an alliance called the United Opposition. The Binay camp’s revelation was followed by a barrage of blast text messages trumpeting the vice president’s supposed accomplishments and offering advice to the public during the Holy Week.
Both Binay and Estrada have a strong following in the electorate. Estrada placed second in the 2010 presidential elections. “The LP is more concerned at this time with party building in different provinces and municipalities,” Tañada said.
He said the administration party has been busy giving “basic orientation seminars” all over the country to prospective members.
Tañada and another LP stalwart, Florencio Abad, earlier said the party was open to forming ties with other political parties. “But as of now, discussions of forming a coalition are too early,” Tañada said.
Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay, who was reportedly invited to join the senatorial slate of UNA, hit detractors of the new coalition whom she said were likely from the administration.
She lamented that UNA officials were being attacked for their supposed links to the previous administration. She said critics “are merely picking on scraps to negate the credentials of the (senatorial) lineup.”
“I appreciate Vice President Binay’s faith in me, and his confidence in my potential in becoming a more effective leader on a national scale. I thank him for recognizing my consistent performance in my years in Congress, and what I could further contribute to the nation as a public servant,” Magsaysay said.
“I have said time and again that government needs check and balance. When I see something wrong with policies, I am honest with it. Is that wrong? Check and balance is something the administration should well be familiar (with) since they claim to be public servants and stalwarts of the road to a straight path,” she said.
Other potential UNA candidates for senators are Joey de Venecia III, son and namesake of the former speaker; Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce Enrile Jr., son of the Senate president; re-electionist senators Francis Escudero, Gregorio Honasan, Loren Legarda and Alan Peter Cayetano. Binay is also pushing for the inclusion of former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Sen. Enrile said it’s up to the leadership of UNA to decide on Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III’s opposition to the proposed inclusion of Zubiri in the coalition’s senatorial slate.
“We respect the feeling of Koko (Pimentel’s nickname) but in the end this issue will be decided by the directorate of the coalition of the PDP Laban and PMP,” Enrile said over dzBB radio.
Pimentel filed and won an electoral protest against Zubiri after the 2007 elections but was only able to assume his seat in the Senate in August last year.
Zubiri gave up his seat just before the Senate Electoral Tribunal came out with a decision on the electoral protest filed by Pimentel.
“I believe we should move on from what happened in 2007. Both of us are victims here. He was not able to start his term (right away) and I was not able to end my term. What we should focus on is an electoral system that would assure a clear mandate by 2013,” Zubiri said in a phone interview. “I pledged my loyalty to the coalition, together with Vice President Binay and I think the opposition of one member of the coalition is not the position of all its members,” he added.
“It is unfortunate that my fellow Mindanaoan has repeatedly reacted against my entry to the coalition considering that Mindanao lacks representation on a national level,” Zubiri said. “It would be to the region’s disadvantage that we continuously fight with each other on personal issues,” he added. Pimentel is from Cagayan de Oro while Zubiri is from Bukidnon.
No to ‘spent force’
Meanwhile, Binay ruled out joining forces with a “spent force” or “politically dead party” like former President Fidel Ramos’ Lakas and former President and now detained Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Kampi.
Binay stressed the PDP and the PMP are only eyeing to coalesce with the Nationalist People’s Coalition of tycoon Danding Cojuangco, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and the Nacionalista Party (NP).
“Arroyo’s political party is the merged Lakas and Kampi. There is no Lakas-Kampi, in the first place. Second, forming our own alliance doesn’t mean we are the opposition,” Binay said.
“PDP and Partido ng Masang Pilipino eye coalition with Nationalist People’s Coalition, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and Nacionalista Party, but not with GMA (Arroyo) or her political party,” Binay added.
Binay said the PDP and PMP are forming their own alliance to give the people better choices.
In the House, Estrada’s PMP, Villar’s NP, Cojuangco’s NPC, and the National Unity Party composed of former Lakas-Kampi members are with the LP-led coalition headed by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.
There is no such coalition in the Senate, where the ruling party has only four members. At least six senators are seeking reelection in 2013. Most if not all of them want to get in the administration ticket, which with its vast resources would be an advantage. Another advantage would be the endorsement of President Aquino, who continues to enjoy high approval and trust ratings, although these have slightly dipped.
“We have more than enough possible candidates and it is overflowing in fact. We are offering our people choices in the senatorial elections,” Binay said. “No party can claim a monopoly of good intentions for the country or the willingness to serve. In the end, the people will be the ones who will decide whom they want in the Senate,” Binay said.
Binay’s success in getting the Villar and Cojuangco parties to his side would marginalize the ruling LP since it would have no other major political group to recruit except the dismembered Lakas-Kampi, which remains loyal to Arroyo. – With Marvin Sy, Jose Rodel Clapano, Christina Mendez