Gringo: Army officer turned senator now seeks vice presidency 

Senator Gringo Honasan on Monday confirmed he is running for vice president under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) ticket to be the running mate of Vice President Jejomar Binay in the 2016 elections. 

It is no secret, however, that Honasan was not the first choice of the party for the said post.

Honasan earlier said that he does not mind being Binay's "last choice" since he has "no ego to contend with" and was "not after superstar status."

 

Binay's reported first choice was Senator Bongbong Marcos who already announced on Oct. 5 that he is running for vice president. However, he made it clear he is not Binay's running mate since their political differences are difficult to tame. Rather, he expressed support for Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte if he will run for the highest seat in the country. 

 

As the vice president of UNA, Honasan joined Binay during his meeting with the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) last month.

 

In a statement, UNA president and Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco said that the tandem of Binay and Honasan "highlights UNA as a party committed to uplifting the lives of the poor, upholding democracy and restoring the dignity of every Filipino."

 

He said that Honasan's experience as a soldier and legislator made the senator as a champion of the rights of masses and uniformed personnel. 

 

A soldier 

 

After taking up Economics at the University of the Philippines, Honasan entered the Philippine Military Academy. In 1971, he graduated as the "Class Baron," which is the institution's highest leadership award. 

 

As a soldier, he was assigned in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and earned a number of medals, awards, decorations and commendations for gallantry in action. His awards include Distinguished Conduct Stars, Gold Cross medals, and Wounded Personnel Medals sustained in combat. 

 

Honasan was a principal player of the EDSA revolution in 1986. He was one of the leaders of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) that broke away from the martial law government of former President Ferdinand Marcos. He was awarded the Presidential Commendation Medal for Government Service because of his efforts. 

 

After the Revolution, he led several coup attempts that killed dozens including civilians and almost brought down the government of President Cory Aquino. He became a fugitive but was eventually arrested and jailed. He was granted amnesty by President Fidel Ramos in 1992. 

 

A legislator 

 

Honasan was elected as senator in 1995 as an independent candidate. He was reelected in 2001, and also in 2007.

 

He is currently the chairperson of the Senate Committees on Agrarian Reform, Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, and Public Information and Mass Media. 

 

Honasan also chairs three oversight committees: the Congressional Oversight Committees on Agrarian Reform and Dangerous Drugs as well as the Joint Oversight Committee on the Human Security Act. 

 

As a legislator, he is principal author and co-author of the Clean Air Act of 1999, Clean Water Act, the National Security Policy, Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2009, the Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms Law (CARPER), among others. —KG, GMA News