MANILA, Philippines – Former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri has formally joined former President Joseph Estrada’s Pwersang Masang Pilipino Party (PMP) in preparation for the 2013 senatorial election.
Former Solicitor General Frank Chavez, Manila Vice-Mayor Isko Moreno and several city councilors also took their oaths as new members of the PMP.
No less than Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile administered the oath taking of Zubiri as a new member of PMP in a simple ceremony held at the Club Filipino in San Juan City on Thursday. Enrile is allied with Estrada’s PMP.
Zubiri said he joined the PMP because of its “strong and unconditional” stand on issues like national sovereignty, agrarian reform, environment, labor and agriculture and, overseas employment.
The future rulers of the country, he said, should be goal-oriented and not be distracted by politics.
“A party that focuses on the road ahead and not one that is consumed by rear view mirror politics or the politics of hatred. Ang ganitong katangian ay kinakatawan ni Pangulong Erap, Senate President Enrile, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada at ng aming coalition leader, Vice President Binay,” Zubiri added.
Estrada and Enrile welcomed Zubiri’s entry in the PMP.
“Ang alyansang UNA ay hindi tatanggap ng kahit sinong kandidato na may bahid o dungis ng katiwalian,” Estrada said.
He also defended Zubiri from his alleged involvement in the 2007 electoral fraud, which led to his resignation from the Senate. Zubiri was replaced by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who won the electoral protest he filed against the former.
“Nadamay lang siya. Kung siya ay kasama dun, dapat nakakulong na siya,” Estrada said.
Aside from the former president, his son and Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and members of Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP) party also attended the oath-taking.
Vice President Jejomar Binay, who heads the PDP-Laban, was notably absent, however, in the gathering.
Estrada’s PMP and Binay’s UNA have formed a new coalition called the United Alliance or UNA to field a common senatorial slate in 2013.