UNISAN, Quezon—It’s still Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong”Marcos Jr. on top of Vice President Jejomar Binay’s list of running mates in 2016. But in case Marcos turns Binay down, Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II could be next in line.
Former Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said he brought up the idea of getting Honasan to Binay. He did not say, however, how Binay received his suggestion.
Suarez was interviewed on Sunday in Naga City, where he and Binay spent Saturday night with former Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte who celebrated his 80th birthday.
They arrived in this town on Sunday morning. Binay left after a quick lunch at Suarez’s seaside mansion.
Suarez, once allied with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is one of Binay’s political advisers.
Suarez said Honasan’s military background would help in the war against crime and illegal drugs.
“The country needs an effective crime and drug buster who has the capability, expertise and tactical knowhow to eliminate or minimize the drug problem and other criminalities,”said Suarez, minority leader in the 15th Congress.
“The only person with such qualities who is an ally of VP Binay is Sen. Gringo Honasan,” he said.
Honasan won a Senate seat as an independent allied with the opposition coalition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Binay. Honasan is UNA vice president.
Suarez said he had no objections to Marcos as Binay’s running mate and would be happy to support the ticket should negotiations between the Binay and Marcos camps succeed.
UNA has a self-imposed Sept. 30 deadline to select a running mate for Binay and a 12-member senatorial ticket ahead of the Oct. 12-16 filing of certificates of candidacy for the May 2016 elections.
Aside from Marcos and Honasan, the Binay camp had also floated the names of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, former Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Pag-Ibig Fund president and chief executive officer Darlene Marie Berberabe as possible running mates.—Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon