Magsaysay bolts Lakas to join UNA senatorial slate

Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay. congress.gov.ph photo

MANILA, Philippines – Zambales Representative Milagros Magsaysay on Tuesday confirmed she was leaving the opposition Lakas-CMD party to join the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) on the invitation of Vice President Jejomar Binay so she could be a United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial candidate.

UNA leaders had earlier declared that the coalition would be confined to its two main parties—PDP-Laban and the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP)—which was why Magsaysay had to switch parties.

“One of the conditions set by UNA was that Mitos (Magsaysay) should join one of the political parties under it. But even if Mitos leaves Lakas and runs under a different political party, she will still enjoy our unwavering support for her candidacy,” said Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, a staunch ally in the opposition.

Earlier, former Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri, a Lakas member like Magsaysay, joined PMP to be available for UNA’s senatorial slate. Zubiri had sat in the Senate for four years before giving up the seat to Pimentel, the rightful winner in the 2007 Senate polls, who has opposed his inclusion in UNA.

Binay, meanwhile, said that more than nine politicians not belonging to either PDP-Laban or PMP had asked to join the UNA senatorial ticket for next year’s elections.

Binay, who heads PDP-Laban along with Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, made the revelation on Monday at a media forum at a Manila hotel, where he also said they would soon “make the declaration of who else will be part of our ticket.”

“Many want to join our coalition. But while we have taken the position that we will not ally ourselves with other groups, especially those political parties on the national level, there are some whom we will accept in their individual capacity… so we have more than nine to choose from,” he said in English and Filipino.

Binay, also the administration’s housing czar and presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ concerns, did not name the applicants, however.

“Not yet, we may lose the excitement of waiting. Second, those that I may mention might not be chosen, so let’s just wait,” he said in Filipino, adding, “Many more are applying to join UNA.”

Aside from Pimentel, the PDP-Laban and PMP alliance earlier named Joey de Venecia, Jack Enrile and JV Ejercito as likely UNA senatorial bets.