Collision with UNA, yes; coalition, never, says LP member

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines— A collision – not a coalition – will occur between the Liberal Party and the United Nationalist Alliance in 2016, according to an administration lawmaker.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, an LP stalwart, said it was clear from where he stood that the administration party and the opposition party would not come to an agreement to field a common candidate in 2016.

“The proposal of UNA for a possible coalition with LP in 2016 should be based on principles and not on personalities,” he said.

“However, if we will analyze past public statements and stand of UNA on the various anti-corruption initiatives of President Aquino, I can safely say that the UNA and LP are headed to a collision in 2016,” Evardone said in a press statement.

“This is because LP has been steadfast and unequivocal in its support for all the programs and policies of President Aquino,” he said, implying but not saying outright that this was not the case with UNA.

But UNA said it was not Vice President Jejomar Binay who was asking for favors from the Liberal Party.

“The Vice President made it clear that a faction inside the Liberal Party is the one that broached the idea of him being a guest candidate. He never asked to be adopted or to be invited as a guest candidate,” UNA secretary general Toby Tiangco said.

Binay also never sought an alliance between LP and UNA, said Tiangco, who represents Navotas in the House of Representatives.

“All these whispers came from a faction in the Liberal Party. Now, the faction of [Interior Secretary Mar] Roxas is setting conditions for adoption or support which the VP never sought in the first place,” Tiangco said.

He said it was this faction identified with Roxas that was now scampering to downplay apparent disagreements within the administration party over Binay’s prospective adoption.

Roxas, who lost to Binay in the vice presidential race in 2010, is the presumptive standard-bearer of the Liberal Party.

Evardone said all political parties and groups that were interested in a coalition with the LP “should embrace the firm anti-corruption and good governance campaign” of the administration.

“Before we entertain talk of tandems for the 2016 presidential and vice presidential elections, these principles initiated by President Aquino must be clear to all aspirants,” he said.

Evardone made it clear he was behind Roxas.

“Secretary Mar Roxas, who has not been implicated in any corruption issue in his entire career in government, stands out as the leading possible aspirant who can claim to have embraced and have committed to pursue the reform agenda of President Aquino,” he said.

“Personal political ambitions should take the backseat in favor of the interests and welfare of the Filipino people,” Evardone said.

On the other hand, Tiangco said the expression of support for Binay made by Mr. Aquino’s sisters Bally and Kris only showed “big cracks” within the administration party.

He said the news about LP considering the adoption of Binay as its guest candidate in 2016 only emphasized those cracks and created a “series of ripples” within the party.

“The Liberal Party is trying to salvage a situation where party factions have been exposed by making it appear that the VP is seeking their support,” he said.