Marcos-Duterte tandem adopts Honasan on Senate ticket
MANILA, Philippines — Former Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan II got the 11th spot in the senatorial ticket of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s UniTeam, a coalition of the Lakas-CMD, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and other parties.
In a statement on Friday, Marcos said he believes “Honasan will accomplish a lot in the Senate, coming up with laws that will help ensure better lives for our countrymen.”
Honasan was among the prominent figures in the 1986 People Power Revolution that toppled the dictatorship of Marcos Jr.’s father and namesake, but he also took part in coup attempts during the succeeding administration of Corazon Aquino.
Honasan is seeking a return to the Senate, where he was a member from 2007 to 2013. In the 2016 elections, he ran for vice president but lost. Two years later, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed him to head the DICT.
Duterte also endorsed Honasan’s senatorial bid, but the president’s party, PDP-Laban, is currently left without a candidate for the top post. The faction of the PDP-Laban linked to Duterte has however adopted Duterte-Carpio as their vice presidential bet.
As the UniTeam adopts the reelectionist on its senatorial ticket, the Marcos-Duterte tandem also won the endorsement of Honasan’s Reform Party.
Uniteam said Reform Party president James Layug and other officials signed a resolution dated January 21, but made public only on Friday, declaring their support for Marcos and Duterte-Carpio.
The STAR reported in October 2021 that Layug signed an agreement with the PDP-Laban party led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi to endorse Sen. Bong Go’s vice presidential bid — but the latter already withdrew.
Other parties backing the bid of the UniTeam are former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats; Duterte-Carpio’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago; former President Joseph Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino and Marcos-led Partido Federal ng Pilipinas. — Kristine Joy Patag
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