Binay’s UNA gets Comelec nod as political party

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The nominally oppositionist United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay is now a registered political party, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

In a 13-page resolution, the Comelec First Division granted the petition for the registration and accreditation of the UNA as a registered political party that may participate in the May 2016 polls.

“The records sufficiently established that petitioner, UNA, has met all the legal requirements to be registered as a national political party,” said the Comelec resolution dated March 25.

“After careful consideration of the records of this case, the commission is convinced that UNA has fully complied with all the requirements and has all the qualifications and none of the disqualification, for registration,” said the decision.

“Wherefore, the Commission resolves to grant the petition for registration and accreditation of UNA as a national political party for the purposes of the May 9, 2016 national and local elections,” it added.

Section 60 of the Omnibus Election Code states that registration with the Comelec is necessary in order for a political party to acquire juridical personality, and entitle it to the rights and privileges granted to political parties.

UNA was only accredited by the Comelec in 2012 as a “political coalition” between the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan of Binay.

Last year, the Binay camp launched UNA as Binay’s political party for his 2016 presidential run, taking the name of the political coalition formed by several opposition parties in 2013.

Listed as interim national officers of UNA are: Navotas Rep. Tiangco, president; Sen. Gringo Honasan, vice president; lawyer JV Bautista, secretary general; Gary Teves, treasurer; and Maribert Pagente, corporate secretary.