UNA picks Gordon as 10th senatorial bet

PRC chairman Richard Gordon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JESS YUSON

MANILA, Philippines – Former senator Richard “Dick” Gordon is the 10th senatorial candidate of the United Nationalist Alliance.

This means only two seats would be up for grabs before the opposition coalition completes its Senate lineup for the 2013 elections.

Former senator Ernesto Maceda, himself an UNA senatorial bet, said coalition leaders are set to choose among re-electionist Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian, former Senator Francisco Tatad and vice presidential daughter Nancy Binay.

Gordon was among those candidates who ran against President Benigno Aquino III in 2010 presidential elections. He is now a cable news program anchor and remains active in the Philippine National Red Cross.

Maceda said UNA is still waiting for Escudero to decide whether he would choose the opposition coalition or join another being set up by the Liberal Party (LP) with two other groups.

“It remains unclear to us what Chiz wants. If he chooses the [Liberal Party], he cannot join us and be considered a common candidate.  The UNA leaders have already stated there would be no common candidates in our lineup,” said Maceda, who showed up at the Senate Thursday at the celebration of the chamber’s 25th anniversary.

UNA announces its selection of senatorial candidates by tranches. So far, the list also includes re-electionist senators Loren Legarda and Gregorio Honasan, Cagayan Rep. Jackie Enrile, San Juan Rep. Jose Victor Ejercito, Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, former Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri, PDP-Laban secretary general Jose “Joey” de Venecia III and Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia.