Team PNoy jeers UNA over junking of guest bets

MANILA, Philippines—Team PNoy on Friday taunted the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) for its failure to fill up the three slots left vacant with the junking of its guest candidates.

“UNA will no longer fill the three slots because they were spurned by those whom they invited,” Team PNoy spokesman and Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone said in a text message.

Evardone was apparently referring to independent senatorial candidates Teddy Casiño, Edward Hagedorn and Bro. Eddie Villanueva, who were reportedly being eyed to fill up the vacant slots in UNA.

“Apparently, they realized that UNA has no defined agenda to sustain our economic progress and stability,” he said.

But UNA, in a separate statement, denied making any offer to the three independent bets.

In fact, UNA said, it has  no plans of replacing its three former guest candidates–Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Loren Legarda and former MTRCB chairperson Grace Poe-Llamanzares.

Escudero, Legarda and Poe-Llamanzares are official candidates of Team PNoy.

“The fact also that our three official candidates did not succumb to their pressure does not speak well on the strength of UNA as a political coalition,” Evardone said.

“Now that the lines are drawn, the Filipino voters will now have a clear choice whom to vote on May 13– pro-reform or pro-opposition,” he further said.