Binay: Guest candidates to join UNA sorties
-A A +AWednesday, February 13, 2013
MANILA -- Sharing the stage with the nine candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) should not be an issue for guest bets Senators Loren Legarda and Francis Escudero and Grace Poe-Llamanzares, a coalition official said Wednesday.
While on his way to Tagbilaran City for another UNA campaign rally, Vice President Jejomar Binay said the three had an agreement with the coalition to attend its sorties in the future.
"There's an agreement that they will join some of our sorties. Last night (Tuesday), they were not able to make it but let's see in the coming days," he told reporters.
The three were at the proclamation rally of the administration-backed Team PNoy in Plaza Miranda in Manila but Poe and Legarda sent relatives to represent them at the UNA event in Cebu City.
Escudero didn't send any representative.
"I think we will see each other elsewhere. (UNA secretary general) Toby (Tiangco) and I agreed that I can't really attend all rallies of opposing camps," Escudero said late Monday.
UNA's proclamation rally at the Plaza Independencia attracted some 90,000 people as the coalition saw the turnout as a good start to the grueling 90-day campaign.
"The campaign of UNA is definitely off to a good start. And we plan to build on the gains of this fast start all the way to the May elections, consistent with our goal of giving the Filipino people and the Philippines an alternative choice in the Senate, in Congress, and also among local government units," said Tiangco.
Cagayan Representative Jack Enrile, a senatorial candidate, said the huge crowd was a testament that political leaders in Cebu still hold sway over the province's 2.5 million voters despite the recent events including the six-month suspension by Malacañang on Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.
Garcia led Cebu officials in rallying behind UNA candidates, who stood by her when she holed up in the Provincial Capitol for over a month protesting her suspension.
"The great turnout…was a pleasant surprise for us, considering that Cebu had been a bailiwick of the Liberal Party," said Tiangco.
Team PNoy, which is run by the LP-led coalition, is set to court Cebuano voters next week. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)
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