Zubiri: Binay's team lists 10 Senate bets

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — Former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri confirmed that he is running for senator in the 2013 elections, and that he is one of the 10 senatorial bets under the United Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Zubiri, who was in Bacolod as keynote speaker of the 2012 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet in this city last Monday, said the UNA line-up has listed him and the following:

Incumbent Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Loren Legarda, Gregorio Honasan and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, former senators Richard Gordon and Ernesto Maceda, and Representatives JV Ejercito, Jack Enrile and Mitos Magsaysay.

Zubiri said UNA is leaving three slots open for the Nacionalista Party, as Senator Allan Peter Cayetano and Rep. Cynthia Villar may also join the team.

UNA is composed of smaller political parties not allied with the Liberal Party, such as PNP-Laban, National People’s Coalition and the PMP (Partido ng Masang Pilipino), said Zubiri.

Instead of 12, the May 2012 elections would open 13 senatorial seats because Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago will be taking on a job as judge in the International Criminal Court, he said.

Zubiri said Binay is running for president in 2016, and has wanted to be a healing presidential candidate, the reason why the small political parties formed a coalition under the UNA. “He (Binay) said he will be a hypocrite if he would not admit that he is running for president in 2016,” Zubiri quoted the vice president.  (FREEMAN)