Vice President Jejomar Binay announced the establishment of the United Nationalist Alliance or UNA--the political party which sprung from the merger of two (2) parties: Binay's Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and former president Joseph Estrada's Partido ng Masang Pilipino.
The announcement is not premature since it is only a few months prior to the 2013 Senatorial or mid-term elections and any candidate who is dead serious in running for a Senate slot should, by now, already campaigning silently in major cities and provinces.
Sources say Binay told his allies inside the Aquino administration that the party will still welcome the inclusion of several of the LP candidates provided that the administration party finalizes its slate. However, up to presstime, no such final slate yet.
President Noynoy Aquino already intimated his desire to re-field the 2010 Senatorial slate, to be led by former Congressman Ruffy Biazon. Biazon, according to sources, is still undecided. His father, however, Senator Biazon is the one who wants to get back his old post. Several former candidates are also still undecided. There is a possibility that SLAMMATLORD will not be able to form another slate. The possibility is, it probably only be Mano Po, or Slamatpo.
Anyway, the slate of Binay is strong since it consists of former legislators, re-electionists, and new names who has the political clout already to win.
The preliminary UNA slate consists of former Senator Migz Zubiri who already started his campaign using the Philippine National Red Cross.
The other one, Mitos Magsaysay, who seems unable to shake off her pro-Gloria tag.
The rest are shoo-ins: JV Ejercito, Jack Enrile, Joey de Venecia, Ernesto Maceda and re-electionists: Greg Honasan, Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda, Alan Peter Cayetano, Jamby Madrigal. The only new name here is Nancy Binay, eldest daughter of the Vice President.
Of course, in politics, everything is pretty fluid. This will still change based on surveys.
Now, in the administration side, you have Riza Hontiveros, Ruffy Biazon and Danny Lim as possible candidates. With at least five re-electionists, the only available slots for new comers would be seven.
The thing to be considered is this--is it worth it? Is it worth the effort of someone to gun for a senatorial slot when the odds are going against new comers?
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