Palace belittles UNA-Lakas coalition talks

MALACAÑANG on Wednesday maintained that the administration coalition is still a political force to reckon with despite the declaration of Vice President Jejomar Binay that opposition party United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) is talking to Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) in the hopes of forging a coalition for the 2016 elections.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that the administration has the majority of leaders in Congress and government offices.

“If you talk about the positions per party, the administration coalition is also likewise a force to be reckoned with. You have a majority of lawmakers on your side,” Valte said in a press briefing.

“The administration coalition counts for many officials and local government officials as well,” she added.

The administration coalition is composed of the Liberal Party, Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and National Unity Party.

In an event on Wednesday,  Binay confirmed that UNA is in talks with Lakas leaders to form a possible alliance in 2016.

Lakas-CMD is the political party of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Binay said that every vote counts in the coming elections.

The embattled vice president, who is hounded with corruption allegations, remains to be the frontrunner in presidential surveys. AC