Chiz, Grace Poe adopted bets of UNA?

MANILA, Philippines – If you can’t convince them, adopt them.

Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) might end up adopting Sen Francis Escudero and Grace Poe-Llamanzares as guest candidates in its 2013 senatorial slate.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada issued the statement at the Kapihan sa Senado press forum on Thursday, September 6. Poe-Llamanzares is the chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.

Escudero and Poe-Llamanzares have also been named as potential candidates of the administration coalition.

“If we cannot complete the slate, we will adopt Grace and Chiz,” said Estrada, president of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

The PMP joined forces with Binay’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). PMP and PDP-Laban formed UNA for the 2013 midterm elections

So far, UNA has only 10 senatorial bets and will need two more candidates to complete its slate.

A survey frontrunner, Escudero has been coy about which slate he will be joining. He has ties with both Binay and President Benigno Aquino III, having supported their candidacies in 2010.

Estrada said UNA leaders met on Wednesday, August 5 but Escudero’s status was not discussed.

The PMP president said though that the alliance is open to accepting Escudero as guest candidate along with Poe-Llamanzares.

Poe-Llamanzares also has strong ties to UNA leaders owing to the friendship of her father, the late Fernando Poe Jr, with former President Joseph Estrada and his 2004 presidential campaign which was supported by PMP and PDP-Laban.

UNA calls itself the “constructive opposition” to the administration. It initially said it prefers not to have guest candidates but may have to resort to accepting bets to complete its slate. 

‘Chiz is sure winner’

Senator Estrada conceded that whatever slate Escudero will join, he will have good chances in the elections. 

“Senator Escudero is a sure winner whether he decides to run under LP or under UNA,” Estrada said.

In a press conference in July, Escudero said he is not yet keen on choosing which slate to join. 

“Ang pulitika ay hindi naman parang pag-ibig na kailangan isa lang,” Escudero said. (Politics is not like love where you have to choose just one.)

“Maaari at possible na ikaw ay tulungan, suportahan at iendorse ng iba’t ibang partido. Sa punto de vista ng sinumang kandidato ay malaking bagay para sa kanya at malaking pasasalamat sa parte rin namin iyon,” added Escudero. (It’s possible that you will get help, support and endorsement from different parties. The point of view of any candidate is it’s a big thing and gratitude on his or her part whoever it is.)

The 10 senatorial bets of UNA are:

1. Joey de Venecia, PDP-Laban executive vice president
2. Cagayan Rep Juan Ponce “Jack” Enrile Jr, NPC and son of the Senate President
3. San Juan Rep Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, PMP and Estrada’s son
4. Sen Gregorio Honasan II (independent)
5. Resigned Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri (PMP)
6. Zambales Rep Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay (PDP-Laban)
7. Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia (PDP-Laban)
8. Former Senator Richard Gordon
9. Former Senator Ernesto Maceda
10. Senator Loren Legarda (official announcement to be made soon)

The filing of certificates of candidacy is next month, October 1 to 5. – Rappler.com

View the Elections 2013 Microsite here. 

More in Rappler’s 2013 Philippine elections coverage: 

• 2013 partylist nominees: Past, present gov’t officials
• Ready for first gay senator? Binay thinks so
• Why Aquino, Villar need each other
• 900 ARMM poll hotspots to be monitored during voters registration
• LP+NP+NPC = PNoy’s politics of addition?
• LP reviewing list of 16 senatorial hopefuls
• Comelec creates new unit to monitor campaign finances
• Comelec accredits UNA as official coalition
• UNA vs LP: What’s the difference?
• Binay and the politics of firsts