LP on Binay-Honasan tandem: Let’s wait and see

MANILA, Philippines - The administration’s Liberal Party (LP) said it would just have to wait and see whether the tandem of Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Gregorio Honasan II for the 2016 elections would materialize.

The LP also expressed confidence that the chances of its presidential and vice presidential candidates, Manuel Roxas II and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, would get even better after their official proclamation.

“Today, we have already introduced to the Filipino people the best candidates of the straight path. On Friday, when we present our Senate slate to our bosses, all the more will it be clear: while others are finding it extremely difficult to piece together a coalition, our forces are solid,” President Aquino said during Robredo’s formal acceptance to be Roxas’ running mate at Club Filipino yesterday.

Binay, the opposition’s presidential bet, would reportedly have Honasan as his running mate instead of Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

LP stalwart and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said it was difficult to react to the unofficial Binay-Honasan tandem.

But as “Greg (Honasan) said, hindi yata maganda ‘yung Bi-Hon (Bi-Hon is probably not good). But I don’t know if that is true,” Abad said, referring to the thin noodle bihon commonly used to cook pancit.

Regarding the chances of Roxas and Robredo of winning in the elections, Abad said the LP is expecting Robredo’s popularity to improve after the official declaration and endorsement of the President.

Abad noted that the same thing happened to Roxas, who was also lagging behind in surveys before the President endorsed him.

“I was telling you, wait until he makes himself available and wait until the President endorses him. I think that is the same thing for Leni,” Abad said.

LP senatorial slate

Abad said the President, Roxas and Robredo have set high standards for the those eying inclusion in the LP Senate slate.

Asked about Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino who was reportedly included in the LP senatorial ticket but figured in a controversy involving a sexy dance performance during the birthday party of an LP member in Laguna recently, Abad said the investigation would have to be finished first.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is set to resign from her post next Monday because of her senatorial bid under LP.

“Yes I am running for senator. I will resign as secretary of justice on Oct. 12,” De Lima said yesterday in a text message to reporters, confirming again her inclusion in the senatorial lineup of LP.

“‘Everybody knows that I’m part of the list. I might as well say it,’” she said in an interview earlier in the day.

De Lima already bid farewell to her colleagues in the DOJ during the department’s 118th founding anniversary last Sept. 24. – With Edu Punay