Comelec asked to rule on use of UNA acronym by different parties

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—The United Nationalist Alliance will leave it up to the Commission on Elections to decide who may use the acronym UNA in light of the prior existence of a local party with the same initials,  according to the daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Nancy Binay-Angeles  maintained, however, that UNA was not an opposition party and was supportive of President Benigno Aquino’s administration.

Former president Joseph Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino  and Vice President Binay’s  Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, have formed the UNA which would field senatorial candidates in next year’s elections.

Among the possible UNA senatorial candidates in 2013 are Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, Gregorio Honasan, Loren Legarda and Francis Escudero, Representatives JV Ejercito and Jack Enrile, Jose de Venecia, and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

But there is already the United Negros Alliance which uses UNA as an acronym.

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., UNA chairman, has said his local party plans to file a formal protest with the Comelec if the national coalition will use their acronym, UNA.

He pointed out that the United Negros Alliance has been using the UNA acronym for 12 years.