Estrada: UNA will be a constructive foe

Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) will be part of the political opposition, albeit a “constructive” part, according to former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada.

The former president was asked about the fact that Mr. Aquino had been openly campaigning for Chief Justice Renato Corona’s removal and how this would affect his relationship with UNA allies who may not follow Malacañang’s line.

Estrada, one of the three senior leaders of the alliance, said President Aquino should not take it against the senator-judges identified with UNA if they should vote against the removal of Corona in the impeachment trial.

“That will not destroy our relationship with (the President’s) LP (Liberal Party),” Estrada told the Inquirer in an interview at his residence in San Juan on Friday.

‘We’re not Liberals’

But what if the President did not feel the same way?

Estrada replied: “So what? We’re not Liberals.”

While the impeachment trial was in recess, news about UNA mobilizing its forces broke out, apparently in preparation for Binay’s presidential run in 2016.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, the presiding officer of the trial, is part of the UNA executive committee, along with Estrada and Binay. Another UNA stalwart is Estrada’s son Jinggoy Estrada, the Senate President Pro Tempore.

Estrada said that among the candidates being considered for UNA’s senatorial ticket in next year’s elections were Senators Gregorio Honasan and Francis Escudero. Both senators serve as judges in the Corona trial.

Enrile, Honasan and the younger Estrada form the so-called “macho bloc” in the upper chamber. With them is Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III.

Vote on evidence

At a meeting of the UNA executive committee earlier this week, Estrada said Enrile told the group that the senators—by the Senate President’s reckoning—would vote solely based on evidence. Estrada said that even his son was unsure about the general “temperament” of the public on whether to acquit or convict Corona.

“This involves the future of the country so party (affiliation) is only secondary,” Estrada said. “As I see it, the Senate President wants to leave a legacy. This is his last term. He is no longer running.”

Estrada said UNA would not interfere with the way the senators affiliated with the alliance would vote in the impeachment trial.

“We will not take it against any member of the party,” he said.

In beefing up UNA’s roster, Estrada did not appear keen on inviting the Nacionalista Party into coalition. The LP is said to be eyeing its own alliance with the NP, the oldest political party in the country.

‘Where’s NP now?’

Estrada belittled any impact the NP might have on the chances of UNA bets winning in the midterm elections.

“Nakita mo kung saan pinulot yung mga Nacionalista in the last election?” he said, referring in particular to Sen. Manuel Villar, who landed third in the 2010 presidential race “despite spending billions.”

Estrada, who came in second to Mr. Aquino, noted that he got more votes than Villar despite supposedly spending “only P600 million.”

The former president was confident that his endorsement and that of Binay were enough to catapult UNA candidates to victory. He referred to a recent Pulse Asia survey that showed Binay as the top endorser. Mr. Aquino was second while Estrada came in third.

“We have a big advantage over all,” Estrada said.