After Binay’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) formally joined forces with the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of former President Joseph Estrada, the vice president is also trying to get other major political groups in the country to his side, his media officer, Joey Salgado, said.
Salgado confirmed reports that UNA is now discussing a possible coalition with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) of business tycoon Danding Cojuangco, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) of Sen. Edgardo Angara and Nacionalista Party (NP) of Sen. Manuel Villar.
Cojuangco is the uncle of President Benigno Aquino 3rd. Villar, on the otherhand, was defeated by President Aquino in the 2010 elections.
“Talks are ongoing for them to join the coalition,” Salgado told The Manila Times.
Cojuangco’s camp admitted that talks are indeed going on for a possible coalition.
“The NPC is open to all options. These options will take into account what is good not only for the party but for the country,” Rep. Rex Gatchalian of Valenzuela, who serves as spokesman for the NPC, said.
Rep. Crispin Remulla of Cavite, deputy speaker at the House of Representatives, said that NP is also open for an alliance with other parties.
“That [forming a coalition] with other parties is always a possibility,” Remulla said.
Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., who is also the president of Lakas- Christian Muslim Democrat (CMD), former President Gloria Arroyo’s party, has also confirmed that they will join Binay’s coalition.
Revilla said that Lakas-CMD will not be fielding candidates in the 2013 senatorial elections and will instead coalesce with Binay’s UNA.
Salgado said that if negotiations with the other big political parties will be successful, UNA will be a powerful coalition and a force to be reckoned with in next year’s polls as it will be composed of six major political parties—PDP-Laban, PMP, Lakas-CMD, NPC, LDP and NP.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who is allied with Estrada’s party, earlier described UNA a “sleeping giant,” ready to rumble with the senatorial ticket of the ruling Liberal Party of President Benigno Aquino 3rd.
He compared next year’s political showdown to the biblical story of “David and Goliath” and likened Binay’s group to David, which he said may be puny but can win the battle.
Salgado, however, said that the ruling party has the advantage in terms of resources.
“It [UNA] will still have to contend with the resources of the ruling party, which enjoys the advantage,” he said.
For his part, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel 3rd, Binay’s party-mate at PDP-Laban, said that political parties which will join their coalition will also be strengthened.
“A coalition of course will strengthen all parties involved wag lang ma-identify sa [unless it will be identified with the] notoriously corrupt,” Pimentel told The Times.
Source : by RITCHIE A. HORARIO, Manila Times
