With VP Binay leaving the party, PDP-Laban may split with UNA

(Updated 7:40 p.m.) The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), which served as the opposition coalition during the 2013 midterm polls, may not be united for long.

 

In an interview Monday, Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said most members of his party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), are inclined to sever ties with UNA, after Vice President Jejomar Binay expressed his intention to leave the party.

 

UNA was formed before the 2013 elections after Binay aligned PDP-Laban with former President Joseph Estrada's Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

 

"Everything is open now. If the vice president will leave PDP-Laban, PDP-Laban will now officially communicate with UNA na aalis na kami sa coalition with PMP. We will be free to form coalitions with other parties, pero hindi mamadaliin iyan," Pimentel told reporters.

 

"I would think the prevailing sentiment is to disengage the party from existing coalitions so we will be free to enter into new arrangements in due time," the senator added.

 

Although he is a member of PDP-Laban, Pimentel ran and won the senatorial elections under the administration slate, and not under UNA. 

 

No effect on party

 

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.

 

"Para hindi na lang lumala pa ang hindi pagkakaisa na tila lumalabas sa partido, kailangan i-consider namin, time na siguro na mag-move on," the vice-president said.

 

Binay added he may form a new political party consisting of those who want to join him in leaving PDP-Laban including Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao and Cebu Rep. Gwen Garcia.
Garcia is a member of One Cebu, an affiliated local party.

 

Pimentel however said that Binay's departure will not affect PDP-Laban since Binay "has been inactive" from the party anyway.

 

"Wala po ito masyadong malaking epekto sa size ng party, sa membership, except that we [will lose] the highest-ranking [elected ]official in our party," the senator said.

Earlier in the day, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda refused to comment on Binay's plan to form a new party.