Legarda, Llamanzares named UNA guest candidates

MANILA -- Senator Loren Legarda and Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chairperson Grace Poe-Llamanzares will run in next year's midterm elections as guest senatorial candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

The UNA Executive Committee – composed of Vice President Jejomar Binay, former President Joseph Estrada, and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile – were unanimous in their decision to invite Legarda, a member of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), which has a coalition agreement with the ruling Liberal Party.

In a briefing at the Coconut Palace in Pasay City, Binay said Legarda brings to UNA her "exemplary record" as two-term legislator. Legarda, a poll frontrunner, topped the senatorial elections in 1998 and 2007.

"We in UNA believe that our country needs a senator like her who is intelligent, hard-working and is well-loved by Filipinos," Binay said.

Legarda said she will respect the partnership agreement between the NPC and the LP, adding she will continue to support the reform programs of the Aquino administration.

"I will continue to support President Aquino and Vice President Binay, the two highest elected officials of the land," she said.

UNA will also field the following: Senator Gregorio Honasan II, San Juan City Representative Joseph Victor Ejercito, former senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Ernesto Maceda and Richard Gordon, Zambales Representative Mitos Magsaysay, Cagayan Representative Jack Enrile and Joey de Venecia.

The coalition will file the certificates of candidacy at 1 p.m., October 1 (Monday) with the Commission on Elections (Comelec). (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)