UNA selects Honasan as Binay’s VP

Sen. Gringo Honasan

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) selection committee has formally selected Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan as the running mate of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

READ:‘Bi-Hon’ tandem in 2016 possible, says Honasan

In a statement on Tuesday, UNA president Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said the selection committee has formally offered to Honasan the opportunity to run as the candidate for Vice President of Binay in 2016.

“After consulting with leaders of the Party, the selection committee of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) hereby announces that it is formally offering to Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan  the position of UNA Vice Presidential standard bearer for the 2016 Elections,” Tiangco said.

Tiangco said Honasan was chosen because of his experience as legislator and soldier. ” He has championed the rights of the urban poor and farmers, and promoted the welfare of the masses, government workers and our men and women in uniform.”

“The Binay-Gringo tandem highlights UNA as a party committed to uplifting the lives of the poor, upholding democracy and restoring the dignity of every Filipino,” he added.

Honasan as a soldier played a key role in leading the Edsa People Power Revolution which toppled the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, father of incumbent Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Honasan was one of the top leaders of the renegade Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), which played a major role in the Edsa 1 revolt after it broke away from the dictatorial rule.

But things got sour with him and the newly-installed Cory Aquino administration. Honasan was closely identified with the dictator’s former defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile, who became one of Cory’s staunch critics.

Honasan and RAM led a series of unsuccessful coup d’etat during the Cory administration. Ironically in those bloody attempts to topple the first Aquino government, RAM made alliance with troops loyal to dictator Marcos. The most destructive was the December 1989 coup which wreaked havoc to the economy, reportedly costing US$1.5 billion in losses as it drove foreign investors and tourists away for years.

Ahead of the 2016 elections, Honasan was also sued before the Ombudsman for malversation, bribery and graft for allegedly receiving P1.75 million in kickbacks through alleged ghost projects under the scheme of pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

Tiangco said he has formally made the offer to Honasan, wo told the UNA official he would have to consult his family first.

Meanwhile, Vice President Binay has vowed to adhere to the party decision on his running mate in 2016, Tiangco said.

“VP Binay has been consistent in saying that it is up to the search committee and he will abide by the decision of his partymates,” Tiangco said.

The UNA preferred the “BiHon” or “BinGo” tandem in 2016 after talks between Binay and Senator Marcos fell through.

In a statement Monday night, Marcos has announced his decision to join the Vice Presidential derby, and ruled out rumors that he would run alongside Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

READ: Bongbong Marcos joins VP derby

It would the be a five-way fight for the vice presidential post in 2016 – Marcos, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo (with Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas), Sen. Francis Escudero (with Sen. Grace Poe), Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. TVJ