Uncertainty in opposition

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada . FILE PHOTO

The newly launched United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay plans to team up with other opposition parties, including the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, according to UNA spokesperson Mon Ilagan.

While Binay and Estrada belong to two separate political parties, both are still affiliated as members of the opposition said Ilagan, who downplayed Estrada’s absence at the launch of the UNA party on Wednesday.

“Eventually, they will join together as one big opposition party. UNA will be the umbrella because the Vice President is the presidential candidate of the opposition,” Ilagan said in a phone interview.

No talks yet

But Sen. JV Ejercito, Estrada’s son and a member of the PMP, on Friday said that as far as he knew, there were no talks yet of a partnership between PMP and UNA.

Ejercito said that, personally, he would rather wait for political developments to unfold before committing himself to any candidate.

“We all know we’re in a quandary with Sen. Grace Poe and Binay [possibly running],” he said over the phone.

He earlier disclosed that with Poe and her late father, Fernando Poe Jr., being close to the Estradas, the family would have a problem choosing between her and Binay if she would decide to run for President in 2016.

His father (Estrada) could not just leave Poe on her own, Ejercito said.

Estrada still for Binay

Poe has yet to announce her 2016 plans. Estrada has yet to commit to a specific candidate for the presidency.

But in the meantime, Estrada still supports Binay, Ilagan said.

“What is more important is that we have the full support right now of former President Joseph Estrada,” he said. “He (Binay) has a good relationship with [Estrada]. They share the same views.”

He attributed Estrada’s absence at the UNA launch to the latter’s desire not to steal the thunder from Binay.

UNA’s formal partnership with opposition groups such as PMP and Lakas could come after UNA has finalized its lineup, he further said.

Search for running mate

At present, its selection committee is searching for a running mate for Binay. It is also drawing up its list of senatorial candidates.

Binay’s new UNA party is different from the UNA in 2013 that fielded a senatorial slate.

The 2013 UNA was a coalition between Estrada’s PMP and the PDP-Laban, Binay’s old party. At that time, Estrada, Binay and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile were dubbed the three “kings” of the group.

Binay later bolted from PDP-Laban, citing disunity in the party. The PDP-Laban also left UNA.

Eventually, Binay, upon the advice of Estrada, formed his own political party, also called UNA.