UNA drops common bets but cites ties

Ayee Macaraig tells us why the alliance decided to call it quits despite deep personal ties. 

Are they with us or against us?

The status of Senators Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero and Grace Poe has been a long-running issue.

For months now, the 3 benefit from endorsements from both the ruling Liberal Party and the opposition United Nationalist Alliance or UNA.

It’s an odd arrangement that sparked a tug-of-war, and questions on where their loyalties really lie.

Finally, UNA calls it quits.

UNA Campaign Manager Toby Tiangco announces the alliance is junking the three from its list of candidates. 

Tiangco says UNA exhausted all means to accommodate them but they failed to live up to their commitment to also join UNA events.

For UNA, the last straw is their decision to choose the LP proclamation in Manila last week over its rally in Cebu.

While campaigning in Zambales, UNA’s senatorial bets explain the decision as a response to what they call the “unfair treatment” the 3 gave UNA.

JUAN MIGUEL ZUBIRI

UNA SENATORIAL BET

“Like any lover that you have, if you love somebody, dapat magpakita ka rin para tuloy-tuloy ang pagmamahal pero pag na-snub ang mahal sa buhay, talagang magagalit din iyon and that’s what happened.”

Yet San Juan Representative JV Ejercito says it wasn’t an easy decision to make considering the three’s history with UNA.

Poe is the daughter of the late Fernando Poe Jr, the best friend of Ejercito’s father and UNA stalwart, former President Joseph Estrada.

Legarda was Poe’s running mate in 2004 while Escudero was their spokesperson in the opposition.

REP JV EJERCITO

UNA SENATORIAL BET

“Si Grace, alam niya kung sino ang nagpakahirap para kay FPJ nung 2004, nung panahong ang LP ay ‘di naniniwala sa kanyang tatay. Kami ay buong puso, dugo’t pawis ang aming binigay para kay FPJ, former President Erap, VP Binay at kami.” 

Despite UNA’s decision, Ejercito and his father say they will still personally campaign for Poe because of their families’ close ties.

This early, talk is already rife of possible replacements for the 3 including evangelist Brother Eddie Villanueva, Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn and Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño.

For UNA’s candidates, it’s not an issue if they’re only 9 in the slate.

TINGTING COJUANGCO

UNA SENATORIAL BET

“That’s not my decision to make but I think with 9, UNA already has its hands full so tingin ko di na kailangan.”

UNA’s top leaders, Estrada, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile will have to decide whether or not to replace the three.

Shared, guest, adopted candidates.

For UNA, it’s time to draw the line and make a choice. 

Yet the case of the common candidates shows that in the Philippines, party affiliations are not so much about differences in ideologies but personal relationships. 

Ayee Macaraig, Rappler, Zambales. – Rappler.com