Koko Pimentel to LP: Join us

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay’s Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) is inviting the Liberal Party to join the newly formed “The United Alliance” or UNA for the 2013 senatorial race.

Senator Koko Pimentel. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

“As president of the party, I’m extending my hand to LP to join UNA,” Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said over the phone.

Pimentel said his offer was proof that UNA, a coalition between Binay’s LDP-Laban and former President’s Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), was not created to go against the dominant LP, which is being headed by President Benigno Aquino III.

“What we’re after is for a political party to check the party in power. Even if we run together…we don’t lose our party identity…we can still check each other,” he said.

Pimentel said he has not yet discussed the matter with Binay, chairman of PDP-Laban, but he was confident that the latter would agree to it.

After all, the senator pointed out that the Vice President is already working side by side with some n LP officials.

“The mere fact that he (Binay) can stand the presence of the LP during Cabinet meetings, it shows that he can work with them,” he said.

Binay defeated LP president and Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas in the 2010 vice presidential race.

Pimentel saw no problem in the selection of candidates for the 2013 senatorial race even if the LP decides to coalesce with UNA.

“If there’s a will, there’s a way,” he said. “But we cannot take in everybody, and if they are persistent, they better form their own slate that will rival ours. It’s up to them,” the senator added.