‘My respect for UNA won’t change’—Legarda

Senator Loren Legarda. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Senator  Loren  Legarda  on Thursday said her respect for  the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) has not changed  despite its decision to drop her  from  the senatorial ticket.

“I have not been informed. If true, my respect for them will not change,” Legarda said in a text message.

“They will continue to be my friends.  I thank them for having us as guest candidates,” she added.

Legarda noted  that despite her affiliation with the Nationalist People’s  Coalition, which  forged a coalition with the administration,  UNA  still adopted  her  to be part of its slate.

“From the very start, they knew my party, the NPC, was having coalition  talks with the administration party. They still adopted me as guest candidate and I thank them sincerely,”  she added.

Aside  from Legarda,  the two other adopted candidates dropped by UNA are Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero and former MTRCB chairperson Grace Poe-Llamanzares.

The three are officially running under the  administration’s Team  PNoy.