Binay: I left PDP-Laban due to disunity in party

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Problems with the leadership in his party prompted Vice President Jejomar Binay to move out and form a new one to launch his presidential bid in 2016.

Binay told a television program Saturday that he did not want the Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipinas (PDP)-Laban to break up, but its leaders should face to the reality of disunity in the party.

He cited the fact that PDP-Laban leaders did not heed a party decision for them to join the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), the party’s coalition, in several elections starting 2010.

UNA, formed by former President Joseph Estrada, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and Binay, fielded a senatorial lineup in the 2013 mid-term elections. Only three UNA candidates — Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito and Gringo Honasan — made it.

“In the Senate, we have a member from the majority party and another from the minority party. In order that this disunity would not further worsen, I have to consider that it’s time perhaps to move on,” Binay said in Filipino when interviewed on a television program.

Binay was apparently referring to PDP-Laban president, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who belonged to the Senate majority and his daughter Nancy, who belonged to the opposition bloc.

The transcript of his interview was released on Sunday by his office to the media.

Binay, erstwhile PDP-Laban national chair, said he had yet to speak to Pimentel about his departure from the party.

The Vice President had spoken to some party officials before about the disunity and about party decisions not being heeded by members and leaders.

Asked about the people joining his new party, Binay identified them as those who heeded the party decision to be candidates of UNA, such as Cebu Rep. Gwen Garcia and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.

Binay said he has not selected his running mate in 2016 presidential election.

But when asked if Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos could be his possible running mate, he said her name has been suggested.

Binay said UNA would remain a coalition for his new party.

On his relationship with President Aquino, he said that from the start, they belonged to different parties but that he has continued to support him.

“We have to appreciate what the leader is doing, especially when it’s right,” he said.

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