Zubiri, Isko to take oath today as PMP members

MANILA, Philippines - Former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri and Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno are set to take their oath today as members of former President Joseph Estrada’s political party, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

The event will be held at 9 a.m. at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City.

Zubiri’s entry to PMP would enable him to run with Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, who had replaced him in the Senate after he resigned due to alleged massive cheating in the 2007 elections.

Estrada’s PMP and Vice President Jejomar Binay’s Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban earlier entered into a coalition called the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

Asked to comment on Zubiri’s decision to join the PMP, Binay said Zubiri and Pimentel will be running under the UNA slate in the midterm elections next year.

“It’s okay. The leadership is there. They will be together in our slate. I don’t see any problem,” Binay said.

He said he and the other leaders of UNA will handle the situation.

“We will bet on that. We are the leaders, we will handle it. Of course, at the start that might be the situation. But once the problem is settled, that would be sweeter,” Binay said.

He said he is optimistic that both Zubiri and Pimentel would win in the 2013 elections.