UNA BETS DOMINATE PULSE ASIA POLL

Candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) dominated the latest survey conducted by Pulse Asia.

The survey conducted from November 23 - 29 involving 1,200 respondents showed UNA could win seven out of the 12 senatorial slots in 2013.

Sen. Francis Escudero led all senatorial bets with a score of 74.1 percent, while Sen. Loren Legarda got 68.3 percent. Both Legarda and Escudero are guest candidates of UNA.

The survey results showed at least five other UNA senatorial bets landing in the Magic 12. San Juan Representative Jose Victor Ejercito is currently in 4^th place with 57 percent and Rep. Juan Ponce “Jack” Enrile Jr. is in 5^th with 53.2 percent.

Incumbent Sen. Gregorio Honasan is in 8^th with 44.9 percent while Vice President Jejomar Binay’s daughter Nancy Binay jumped to 9^th place with 41.3 percent.

Former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri rounds out list in 12^th with 40.5 percent.

Other UNA candidates in the top 20 are former Senator Richard Gordon in 14^th, Grace Poe – Llamanzares in 17^th, former Senator Ernesto Maceda in 19^th and Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco in 20^th place.

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MACEDA URGES CONGRESS TO PASS LAW AGAINST POLITICAL DYNASTIES

Former Senate President Ernesto Maceda today called on members of Congress to go beyond their personal interests and pass the anti-dynasty law as prescribed by the Constitution. 

"The constitution is clear in saying that political dynasties are prohibited and it is brazenly a violation of the Constitution not to pass an anti-dynasty law," Maceda said. 

Maceda said the proposal of Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago could be a start, with the minimum requirement being the prohibition of relatives within the second degree of consanguinity from running in the same province, city or municipality. 

He clarified, however, that it should not be extended to all relatives like nephews and nieces, cousins, uncles and aunts. He also said there must be exceptions, for example, if the politician's father served many, many years ago.

Maceda said that this is to give other candidates who are not as powerful as the incumbent an opportunity to serve the people as well. "It is also a valid point that just like the rationale of the party list law, all citizens should be given an equal chance to win in public office," he said. 

(End) 

Erap files COC for Mayor of Manila (photos)

UNA Candidates File Certificates of Candidacy accompanied by UNA "3 Kings"

 At Manila Hotel ...

L-R: Mitos Magsaysay, Ernesto Maceda, JV Ejercito-Estrada, Joseph Estrada, Jejomar Binay, Juan Ponce Enrile, Miguel Zubiri, Gringo Honasan, Richard Gordon, Jack Enrile, Tingting Cojuangco. Front: Manny Pacquiao

At Comelec ...
 

The Three Kings/Kingmakers

Senatorial Candidate Tingting Cojuangco with PDP Laban Sec Gen fmr Cong. Peping Cojuangco

UNA senatorial slate for 2013 polls complete – Binay

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday said that the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) has already finalized its senatorial slate for the 2013 polls.
In an interview with reporters after he gave his speech at the Liga ng mga Barangay National Convention in Pasay City, Binay said that UNA has decided to include Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Margarita Tingting Cojuangco in its senatorial slate.
“We are including him (Escudero) in the slate,” Binay said when asked about the status of the alliance’s talks with Escudero.
Binay also noted that he was 99.9 percent sure that Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, aunt of President Benigno Aquino III, would be included in the ticket.
Cojuangco is the wife of UNA vice president and former congressman Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr.
UNA is the new coalition formed between Binay’s PDP-Laban and former President Joseph Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.
During a press conference last Monday, UNA announced that Senator Loren Legarda had accepted the party’s invitation to run as a guest candidate for the senatorial slate.
Among those who earlier made it in the slate were Senators Gregorio Honasan, San Juan Representative JV Ejercito, Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce-Enrile Jr., former senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Ernesto Maceda and Richard Gordon, Zambales Rep. Milagros “Mitos’ Magsaysay and businessman Joey de Venecia.
Binay and Estrada had also said that Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chairman Grace Poe Llamanzares was already an “adopted candidate.”
Binay said that he was not bothered by reports that Legarda had talks with President Aquino, saying that Legarda would campaign with UNA.
“Legarda is UNA’s candidate. She will join UNA’s political activities,” Binay said.
Asked about the campaign arrangements for Escudero, Binay said that it would be like the arrangement for Llamanzares, who he had earlier described as an “exception to the rule.”
Escudero and Llamanzares had both been reported to be likely adopted by the Liberal Party (LP).
However, Binay noted that they would not force Llamanzares to join the campaign if she would not be allowed by the LP.
Llamanzares, in earlier reports, had noted that she had not yet received final instructions from Aquino.
Binay had also earlier announced that UNA candidates would be filing their certificates of candidacies on October 1, 1 p.m.