MANILA, Philippines - Former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri remains on the senatorial slate of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) despite strong protests from Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, Vice President Jejomar Binay said yesterday.
Speaking at the weekly Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel media forum, Binay said as chairman of Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban), he will try to settle the issue between Zubiri and Pimentel.
“If he is a nominee of PMP, we will have to abide with it,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
They will not form alliances with other political parties, but they are open to adopting candidates from other parties, Binay said.
Pimentel is PDP-Laban president.
Binay’s PDP-Laban and former President Joseph Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) have formed UNA.
UNA had bared its five senatorial candidates for the 2013 elections. They are Pimentel, San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito of PMP, son of former President Estrada; Joey de Venecia of PDP-Laban, son of former speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.; Sen. Gregorio Honasan and Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile, son of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.
Earlier, Pimentel filed before the coalition’s executive committee a formal motion expressing his strong opposition to Zubiri’s inclusion.
Pimentel considered Zubiri as the beneficiary of electoral fraud during the 2007 midterm elections, depriving him of a Senate seat for four years.