Loren in talks with UNA’s ‘3 kings,’ not LP

MANILA, Philippines – What will it be for Senator Loren Legarda: the Liberal Party (LP), the United Nationalist Alliance or both?

Legarda, a survey frontrunner, said her answer will be known soon. She is seeking reelection for her last Senate term. 

“There are coalitions who have invited me and I thank them for that and at the proper time, perhaps in one or two weeks, the coalitions who are inviting me will announce it themselves,” Legarda told Rappler.

The senator said though that she has had direct talks only with Vice President Jejomar Binay’s UNA. Whatever slate she will join, Legarda said she will still run as a member of her party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

“There is an invitation from UNA to be a guest candidate because they respect my being NPC. There is a direct invitation, yes, [from] all of them, the 3 kings,” Legarda said.

Legarda was referring to the top leaders of UNA: Binay, former President Joseph Estrada and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

In the case of the LP, Legarda said she has not talked to any leader of the ruling party because it is the NPC that is communicating with the LP to form an administration ticket.

LP officials have said that the NPC already nominated Legarda to be one of its candidates in the administration slate. 

“I don’t have a personal invitation from the Liberal Party,” Legarda said. “If you’re asking about the President or any member of the party, it is the NPC officials speaking to the Liberal Party officials and vice versa and they are only speaking about the local positions, for congressmen, mayors and governors and have not even progressed to national and senatorial level.”

“There is no direct communication [with me], it’s a party to party thing,” Legarda added. 

‘NPC will support me’

Legarda also corrected statements saying that she has spoken to NPC founder Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr about joining UNA. Legarda has been an NPC member since 2007. 

“That’s not true. I think he’s retired or semi-retired from politics, just to be fair to Ambassador Cojuangco. I have not seen or talked to him in a long, long time.”

Legarda said that she has been speaking with Cojuangco’s brother, Tarlac Rep Enrique “Henry” Cojuangco and other NPC colleagues about her plans for 2013. 

“They will support me, I hope and I think, whichever coalition I will become a guest candidate in,” Legarda said.

Despite Legarda’s silence, Estrada announced as early as July that she had committed to campaign exclusively with UNA even if she is named as an administration candidate.

UNA Spokesperson JV Bautista also said that the alliance is preparing a “grand and major” announcement for Legarda soon.

Still, Legarda continues to be named as one of the potential guest candidates of the LP.

Asked about the policy of both slates to require their candidates to campaign exclusively with their tickets, Legarda said the issue will be worked out soon.

“I will leave it to them and we will abide by whatever the coalitions so desire but we cannot limit if you have two or even 3 invitations, what can you do? If they adopt you, you are adopted as a guest candidate but I will leave that in the next few weeks. It will resolve itself.” – Rappler.com 

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More in Rappler’s Elections 2013 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