CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday attended the official launch of Vice President Jejomar Binay’s political party, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
The mayor was the one who introduced Binay to those who attended the event, which was held at the Makati Coliseum.
Rama described Binay as the “most prepared” presidential candidate in the 2016 national elections.
“The man that I will introduce to you is the man that will bring direction, the man that will redeem a divided nation, a man whose experience will never be doubted. A man whose heart is for service, whose heart is for the youth, whose heart is for the poor. Tunay, matibay, angay para sa ating bayan, angay para sa ating nasud na Pilipinas (True, strong, worthy for the people, worthy for the country)” he said.
“Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you the most prepared presidential candidate for this country. Ladies and gentlemen, let us all stand, all stand, all stand and put your hands above with a thunderous round of applause, the next president of the Republic of the Philippines Jejomar Binay,” Rama added.
Prepared
In an interview with Sun.Star Cebu last night, Rama said he did not expect he will be the one to introduce Binay during the event.
After he arrived from the airport, Rama said he was approached by UNA Interim Secretary General JV Bautista to do the introduction.
The mayor’s group, Team Rama, is an ally of UNA.
Rama said he described Binay as the most prepared presidential candidate because of his experience, track record and for still standing up even if he is being attacked.
“When put together, mao ni giingon nga gisubhan na (this is what we call the beginning),” he said.
Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia (3rd district) was also present during the UNA event yesterday. She was the one who nominated Sen. Gregorio Honasan to be UNA’s vice president.
Rama went to Manila yesterday, together with other Team Rama members, such as Councilors Gerardo Carillo and Dave Tumulak, former city councilors Joy Pesquera and Joey Daluz III, his son Mikel, Rene Mercado and Eugene Elizalde, among others.
They flew to Manila right after Rama delivered his message during the City Council’s inaugural session yesterday.
In his keynote speech, UNA chairman Vice President Jejomar Binay scored the administration’s failures and alleged insensitivity to address the people’s needs.
Binay said that after the administration’s five years, the same problems of joblessness, hunger, poor public health, lack of educational opportunities among the youth continue to haunt the nation.
“Kaya ba ang tanong ng bayan: nasaan ang gobyerno (That’s why the citizens are asking: where is government)?” he said.
He also criticized the unreliable services of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the government’s bungled anti-terror operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25 that claimed 67 lives, including 44 elite cops.
Resigned
Binay resigned last week as housing czar and Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ Concerns, concreting his position as the opposition’s main man.
He is running for president next year and may square off with LP’s presumptive candidate Local Government Secretary Roxas II.
“Itatatag ng UNA ang isang pamahalaang nakasandig sa katapatan, hustisya at galing (UNA will build a government over truthfulness, justice and excellence),” Binay said, adding the three pillars of UNA governance are social inclusion, economic dynamism, and effective governance.
During the event, the party’s national officers—president, vice president, secretary general, treasurer, legal counsel, and chairman—were formally announced.
Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco was elected as the party’s president, Senator Gregorio Honasan II as vice president, lawyer JV Bautista as secretary general, and former finance secretary Margarito “Gary” Teves as treasurer.
The Vice President’s wife Elenita and daughters Senator Nancy Binay and Makati City Representative Abigail Binay attended the launch to show their support.
Mayor
Suspended Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. was also present at the event.
UNA’s potential senatorial bets, Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao and Parañaque City Councilor Alma Moreno, also took part in the event.
Conspicuously absent at the launch was UNA stalwart Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, who is reportedly torn between supporting Binay and Senator Grace Poe, daughter of his bosom buddy, the late movie icon Fernando Poe Jr.
The senator, however, has yet to decide whether she would seek higher post.
Estrada’s son, Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, and nephew former Laguna governor Emilio Ramon Ejercito were present, as well as other Binay allies and supporters from all over the country who packed the 3,000-seater Makati Coliseum.
The event was hosted by the son of former senator Ernesto Maceda, Erwin Maceda, and radio personalities Nicole Hyala and Chris Tsuper. (Sunnex)