This formal offer to Honasan came after the talks between UNA and Sen. Sen.
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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.
UNA’s presidential bet is Vice-president Jejomar Binay.
“Yes. I had a talk with him over the phone for the first time last night”, Binay told reporters in Laguindingan town in this province, for the Mindanao leg of the regional launch of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
Asked if he was hurt that he was the last option of Binay, Honasan said, “No. I do not have an ego to contend with”.
“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”, UNA added.
“But as I said, I want to make that decision on the basis of all inputs in-complete, accurate, and timely information that will affect the future of my family and the country and the institution I’m part of”.
“I have to address this with my family”, he said, admitting that his wife and five children are ambivalent about his vice presidential bid.
If ever Honasan decides to accept the UNA’s offer, he will become the fourth from Bicol to run for vice president. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who was earlier speculated to be running with Binay, chose to go solo and run for Vice President. Honasan said he does not feel “insulted” being second choice to Marcos. “I’m not after superstar status”.
Tiangco said Honasan’s expertise on peace and order, as well as in national defense is what set him apart from the other vice presidential aspirants. “Unfortunately it would be hard for me to tame our political differences”.
Honasan said that his family’s initial reaction to the offer is of “reluctance, apprehension on what it will bring to our private lives”.
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“But more than this, I was also fortunate enough to have been under the tutelage of teachers who taught, not merely because it was their job to do so, but because they valued and loved their profession”.
