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Pimentel-led PDP-Laban splits with UNA
By ANDREO CALONZO, GMA News
(Updated 2:28 p.m.) The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), which served as the opposition coalition in the 2013 midterm elections, is united no more.
One of the parties in the coalition, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), announced on Friday its decision to bolt UNA, shortly after Vice President Jejomar Binay expressed his intention to leave the party.
In a phone interview, PDP-Laban spokesman Doy del Castillo said Binay's departure from the party was the main reason why they decided to leave the coalition.
"Ang kasama sa UNA, 'yung aming chairman [Binay]. Since kumalas na siya sa PDP-Laban, kumalas na rin kami sa UNA," Del Castillo said.
"Ang purpose din naman ng merger ay 'yung eleksyon. Tapos na ang eleksyon, kaya napagdesisyunan na rin naming magsarili," he added.
Del Castillo further said that the decision to leave UNA was reached in an executive board meeting, led by Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, last Wednesday.
GMA News Online was still trying to reach Pimentel and Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco, UNA secretary-general, as of posting time.
Palace mum on split
'Strengthen the party'
UNA was formed when Binay aligned PDP-Laban with former President Joseph Estrada's Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) for the 2013 midterm elections.
Over the weekend, Binay, who is eyeing the presidency in 2016, said in a television interview that he is considering leaving PDP-Laban due to problems in the party.
Cracks in the PDP-Laban started to show before the 2013 polls, when Binay decided to include former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri in the UNA senatorial slate.
Pimentel, who won an electoral protest against Zubiri, chose to align himself with the administration coalition for the midterm polls, and eventually won a Senate seat.
Del Castillo said PDP-Laban will now focus on "strengthening the party."
"There were some proposals from some officials to coalesce with other parties, but they were not yet entertained. Gusto muna namin tumayo mag-isa at palakasin ang partido," he said.
Del Castillo added that the party is not discounting the possibility of supporting Binay in his future political endeavors, despite the fact that the vice president decided to leave them.
"Ang pagiging PDP-Laban, hindi naman naalis 'yan agad. Based on principle iyan. Hindi naman 'yan isang paligo lang, wala na," he said.
Binay has been a PDP-Laban member since the merger in 1983 between the PDP of then Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., Senator Pimentel's father, and the Laban party of then-Sen. Benigno “Ninoy Aquino Jr., the late father of President Benigno Aquino III. — with Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK/RSJ, GMA News
One of the parties in the coalition, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), announced on Friday its decision to bolt UNA, shortly after Vice President Jejomar Binay expressed his intention to leave the party.
In a phone interview, PDP-Laban spokesman Doy del Castillo said Binay's departure from the party was the main reason why they decided to leave the coalition.
"Ang kasama sa UNA, 'yung aming chairman [Binay]. Since kumalas na siya sa PDP-Laban, kumalas na rin kami sa UNA," Del Castillo said.
"Ang purpose din naman ng merger ay 'yung eleksyon. Tapos na ang eleksyon, kaya napagdesisyunan na rin naming magsarili," he added.
Del Castillo further said that the decision to leave UNA was reached in an executive board meeting, led by Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, last Wednesday.
GMA News Online was still trying to reach Pimentel and Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco, UNA secretary-general, as of posting time.
Palace mum on split
Malacañang, meanwhile, distanced itself from the issue.
"You can perhaps ask the LP [Liberal Party]. Pulitika po yan. Normally, when it comes to the business of the political parties, we really refer you to the LP spokesperson," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said during a press conference on Friday.
Aquino is LP national chairman.
Earlier, the Palace also refused to comment on news that Binay will be launching a new political party which will carry him as standard bearer in 2016. It also said the President still hasn't decided who to anoint as his successor.
'Strengthen the party'
UNA was formed when Binay aligned PDP-Laban with former President Joseph Estrada's Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) for the 2013 midterm elections.
Over the weekend, Binay, who is eyeing the presidency in 2016, said in a television interview that he is considering leaving PDP-Laban due to problems in the party.
Cracks in the PDP-Laban started to show before the 2013 polls, when Binay decided to include former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri in the UNA senatorial slate.
Pimentel, who won an electoral protest against Zubiri, chose to align himself with the administration coalition for the midterm polls, and eventually won a Senate seat.
Del Castillo said PDP-Laban will now focus on "strengthening the party."
"There were some proposals from some officials to coalesce with other parties, but they were not yet entertained. Gusto muna namin tumayo mag-isa at palakasin ang partido," he said.
Del Castillo added that the party is not discounting the possibility of supporting Binay in his future political endeavors, despite the fact that the vice president decided to leave them.
"Ang pagiging PDP-Laban, hindi naman naalis 'yan agad. Based on principle iyan. Hindi naman 'yan isang paligo lang, wala na," he said.
Binay has been a PDP-Laban member since the merger in 1983 between the PDP of then Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., Senator Pimentel's father, and the Laban party of then-Sen. Benigno “Ninoy Aquino Jr., the late father of President Benigno Aquino III. — with Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK/RSJ, GMA News
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