UNA drops Chiz, Loren, Grace

MANILA (Updated) -- The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) formally dropped re-electionists Senators Loren Legarda and Francis "Chiz" Escudero, and former MTRCB chief Grace Poe-Llamanzares as guest candidates, coalition spokesperson Tobias Tiangco announced Thursday.

"The United Nationalist Alliance has decided that it is no longer obligated to include the names of Chiz Escudero, Loren Legarda and Grace Poe-Llamanzares in its list of candidates," Tiangco said in a statement.

The UNA ticket was in Zambales for a sortie.

The three guest candidates have opted to join the sorties of the Liberal Party-led slate dubbed Team PNoy since the official campaign period for national candidates started February 12.

UNA's Vice President Jejomar Binay earlier threatened to drop them from the coalition ticket if they will continue to snub the rallies of UNA.

"We tried our best to accommodate them. We know that the LP, through Sen. Franklin Drilon, has warned them repeatedly about joining our election activities. We have held on to their assurances that they will join us sooner or later," Tiangco said.

"Unfortunately, none of them have taken any concrete move or extended any meaningful gesture to assure us that they will up to their commitments...It is clear that they have made up their minds. We need to move on," he added.

Tiangco said the UNA coalition wishes the three candidates "good luck" in the midterm elections.

Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone, one of the campaign spokespersons for Team PNoy, said they were not surprised with the decision of UNA.

"Now the lines are very clear between the reformists and the opposition. At least the people will now have a clear choice whom to vote in the May 13 elections. We would like to stress that the three are our official candidates," Evardone told reporters in a text message. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)