Legarda to decide whether it’s LP or UNA

Senator Loren Legarda. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JESS YUSON

MANILA, Philippine – Senator Loren Legarda on Thursday said she would make known her decision to join either the United Alliance or the Liberal Party a week before the start of the filing of candidacy in October 1.

“A few days before or a week before the filing, we’ll have a sumptuous delicious lunch to announce formally the candidacy. Second, I will announce on that day when I will file and with whom.,” Legarda told a regular forum in the Senate.

She confirmed that UNA, a coalition between Vice President Jejomar Binay’s PDP-Laban and former President Joseph Estrada’s Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino, has formally invited her to be a guest candidate for its senatorial ticket in 2013 but there was no formal invitation yet from President Benigno Aquino III’s LP.

“I confirm yes that there has been an invitation for me to be a guest candidate of the UNA but let the party officials of the UNA declare that at the proper time in a more final manner,” said the senator.

But Legarda said her party, the Nationalist People’s Party, and the LP have ongoing talks on the possible coalition in the local level.

“Based on my information, no talks about the national level. The talks have only been limited I think so far on the local level,” she said.

Legarda said she was flattered that both UNA and the LP coalition were considering her to be in their respective slates.

“Kilig pala yun ano. Kilig effect,” she said in jest.