UNA set to serve Bi-Hon

SEN. NANCY Binay on Tuesday said she favored her father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, teaming up with Sen. Gregorio Honasan II in next year’s presidential election, but she was in a quandary whether their tandem should be called Bi-Hon or Bin-Go.

“For me, Senator Greg is very much qualified. We have seen his commitment and love for our country,” Binay said, referring to his military career and a leader of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement that led the aborted coup against Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. The uprising sparked the Edsa People Power Revolution.

“I am for that combination,” Binay’s eldest daughter said.

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) announced Tuesday the team-up of Binay as its presidential candidate in next year’s elections and Honasan as his running mate, after enduring months of rejection from prospective partners who were mostly wary of the corruption charges filed against the Vice President.

Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco, the UNA president, said that a Binay-Honasan combination would underscore the opposition’s thrust to improve the lives of the poor, uphold democracy and restore the dignity of Filipinos.

Tiangco cited Honasan’s long years of service and experience as a military officer and lawmaker.

“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,” Tiangco said.

But he added that Honasan still wanted to talk to his family before making a decision.

Speaking to reporters, Senator Binay was asked what was the better name for the potential tandem between her father and Honasan.

She said that Bi-Hon sounded “satisfying” as people needed food, just like Bin-Go, which she said is a local biscuit brand.

“What do you think would be better, Bi-Hon or Bin-Go,” she asked. She noted Bin-Go could also mean winnable, in reference to the table game of chance.

Consultation

Honasan told reporters he learned about the UNA offer on Monday after Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who was earlier speculated to be running with Binay, decided to go solo and run for Vice President.

HOPING FOR A SERVING OF BI-HON Vice President and United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard-bearer Jejomar Binay presses the flesh with possible running mate, Sen. Gregorio Honasan (right). UNA has formally offered the vice presidential slot to Honasan. INQUIRER PHOTO

“I am asking for time from the UNA leadership to consult my family and friends so that I can come up with a decision that will serve the highest national interest,” he said.

Asked what he felt about apparently being the last choice of UNA, “I have no ego to contend with. Ego is a luxury I cannot afford,” he replied.

“I am not after super star status,” the 67-year-old senator said.

Honasan considered a run for the vice presidency a major decision in his political career which spans over two decades.

“I have to address this with my family,” he said, admitting that his wife and five children are ambivalent about his vice presidential bid.

Honasan said he had never thought about running for Vice President, although he was quoted earlier that he was open to such an idea. “How can I turn it down? There was no formal offer. I am open to it but I am not committed to it,” he said.

He clarified that his selection underwent a thorough party process and was not a mere call of Vice President Binay.

“This is a party decision of which even the Vice President as the titular head of UNA, must subordinate ourselves to. That’s how a political party works in our pluralistic democracy,” Honasan said.

Asked to comment that the other three vice presidential aspirants—Senators Francis Escudero, Antonio Trillanes IV and Camarines Rep. Leni Robredo—also have roots in Bicol, Honasan said the issue must go beyond regional consideration.

“The more candidates there are in the absence of a working political party system I think the better for our democracy,” said Honasan, whose parents hail from Sorsogon.

Honasan said he was expected to give his decision before the start of the filing of the candidacies next week.

Sotto’s predicament

Sen. Vicente Sotto III, a close friend of Honasan, said that the former Army colonel still wanted to get his family’s consent to the UNA offer.

“He had previously taken actions for which he did not get their approval and most of the time it had resulted in problems,” Sotto told reporters. He said Honasan wanted his family to be “with him in whatever decision he would make.”

Sotto also said that he had talked to Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero last night on his predicament should Honasan seek the vice presidency. He said Honasan was with them in their meeting last night.

He had earlier said he was inclined to support Honasan because they were close friends. Sotto, who has declared support for the Poe-Escudero tandem, said that the two senators understood his predicament.

“Grace asked me if I will be with them. Of course I said. As a matter of fact, I said I will be sulking if they will not consider me as with them,” he said.

“We made sure that our friendship remains and whatever decision may come to will not affect our relationship,” Sotto also said of their meeting.