UNA: Estrada endorsement of Poe expected

Vice President Jejomar Binay. Marc Jayson Cayabyab/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) President Tobias “Toby” Tiangco on Tuesday said he respected the decision of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada to support the candidacy of Sen. Grace Poe in the upcoming May national elections.

In a text message, Tiangco, a Navotas representative, also said it is expected for Estrada to support Poe especially after the Supreme Court gave her the green light to run for president after finding her a natural-born citizen.

Tiangco said though that Estrada would have chosen to support the presidential bid of Vice President Jejomar Binay if Poe was disqualified.

READ: Erap endorses Grace; Binays rally in Makati

“We respect his decision. And we wish him luck in his campaign as mayor. It was expected because he said that he will be for Grace Poe, if she is not disqualified. But if she is disqualified, he will go for Binay,” Tiangco said.

Estrada made the announcement to support Poe during his proclamation rally for Manila mayor on Monday. He said he chose Poe out of gratitude to Poe’s adoptive father and his best friend the late action star Fernando Poe Jr.

READ: Estrada: Gratitude to FPJ is why I endorse Grace Poe

Estrada also announced his endorsement of Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for vice president.

Tiangco said that despite nonendorsement from Estrada, Binay remained unfazed in his campaign slogan of helping the poor by promising free social services.

“Binay will go and explain programs to the poor people. Binay is the only real pro-poor candidate. Binay is the candidate who [has] already done a lot for the poor, who has a genuine concern for the poor, and he is the only candidate that the poor can rely on to uplift their lives,” Tiangco said.

On Monday, the vice president’s daughter Makati Rep. Abigail “Abby” Binay also said that Estrada’s endorsement of Poe does not signal the end of the friendship between her father and the incumbent Manila mayor.

READ: Estrada, Binay to remain friends despite Poe endorsement – Abby

Binay and Estrada are political allies. Estrada chose Binay as his running mate in the 2010 presidential elections.

Both were also the founding fathers of UNA before Binay officially launched it as his political party for his 2016 presidential bid. RAM

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