UNA releases 12-man senatorial slate

CURRENT and former senators and scions of political clans are among those who made it to the final senatorial line-up of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay and former President Joseph Estrada for next year’s midterm polls.

They are Senator Gregorio Honasan II, San Juan City Representative Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Cagayan Representative Juan “Jackie” Ponce Enrile Jr., Zambales Representative Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay, former senators Ernesto Maceda, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Richard Gordon, former Tarlac governor Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco and businessman Joey de Venecia III.

Senators Francis Escudero and Loren Legarda and Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Grace Poe-Llamanzares complete the roster as guest candidates. The three are also included in the line-up of the ruling Liberal Party led by President Benigno Aquino III.

In an advisory released by the Office of the Vice President, the coalition will assemble at the Manila Hotel at 11 a.m. Monday before proceeding to the headquarters of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) at 1 p.m.

Binay will be joined by Estrada, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and the senatorial bets except for the guest candidates. Escudero had said he will file his COC as independent on Tuesday.

President Aquino, for his part, is expected to announce the administration senatorial slate on Monday at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, in her weekly interview over Radyo ng Bayan, said the President will deliver a speech at the event scheduled at 10 a.m.

Valte does not know if the senatorial candidates of LP will be filing their COCs after the proclamation.

Meanwhile, environmental group Eco Waste Coalition called on politicians to moderate their garbage and keep the vicinities of Comelec offices clean and without litter as they file their COCs from October 1 to 5.

“Enlightened voters will not be pleased to see obsessive candidates holding wasteful gatherings and parades, creating trash and chaotic traffic, as if they have already won the trust of the electorate,” said Von Hernandez, president of Eco Waste.

The EcoWaste Coalition, as in past elections, will provide the public with guidelines on how to identify and select “green” candidates, and will actively promote waste prevention and reduction before, during and after the campaign period.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez earlier appealed to candidates to avoid “extravagant gimmicks” and to keep their followers “in check” to ensure a peaceful filing of COCs during the designated period. (Virgil Lopez/Jill Beltran/Sunnex)