THE United Nationalist Alliance on Monday welcomed the decision of Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, a senatorial hopeful, to run under it and stick it out with Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting, an UNA stalwart, said Pacquiao’s decision to run for senator under UNA “shows he is loyal to the party.”
He said Pacquiao’s humble beginnings and sympathy for the poor jibed well with the advocacy and platforms of UNA and Binay.
“We are proud he is joining us in our anti-poverty platform, something I know is very close to his heart,” Tambunting said.
Pacquiao filed his Certificate of Candidacy under UNA last week—even as he defended Binay from criticism.
He said Binay’s humble origin was the major factor that moved him to support the vice president’s candidacy by running as part of UNA’s senatorial lineup.
Tambunting said he was confident that Binay would be able to pull through in the 2016 presidential elections despite the case filed against him by the Ombudsman for alleged corruption.
“VP Binay has continued to enjoy the support of our people at the grassroots level. We are confident that the VP will make it in the presidential race,” Tambunting said.
Rep. Silvestre Bello III said the recent survey results showing Binay had been overtaken by administration candidate Manuel Roxas II may not reflect the sentiment of the majority of the Filipino people.
“The administration believes in its own propaganda that its candidate will win,” Bello said.
“But if you go around in many parts of the country, they still prefer a presidential candidate who is for the poor.”