MANILA, Philippines -- Now it can be told: It was the group of former president Corazon Aquino that had allegedly objected to the inclusion of former senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan in the opposition’s senatorial ticket.
Former ambassador Ernesto Maceda disclosed this on Monday as he ruled out the possibility that his friend, Honasan, might still be included in the senatorial slate of the Genuine Opposition (GO).
“The main objection came from the Cory [the former leader’s nickname] group so the Liberal Party could bring Noynoy in,” Maceda said in a phone interview, referring to opposition senatorial bet and Tarlac Representative Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, an LP member.
“Remember, Honasan had rebelled against Cory so it was very clear that Noynoy and his mother would have not joined the UNO [United Opposition] if he is in our slate,” Maceda said, referring to several failed attempts by the former military officer and his group to oust Aquino in the ‘80s.
Maceda did not identify who in the opposition belonged to the “Cory group” but Chit Asis, director-general of the LP, said those identified with the former president, aside from her son, were LP president and Senator Franklin Drilon, former congressman Florencio Abad, and the civil society group, the Black and White Movement.
In a separate interview however Leah Navarro of the Black and White Movement denied that her group had objected to Honasan’s inclusion in the GO list.
She confirmed though that the group’s urban sector, the Black and White Katipunan, had strongly pushed for the inclusion of rebel soldier, Navy Lieutenant Antonio Trillanes IV, in the opposition list.
For the civil society, Navarro said Trillanes was simply more attractive than Honasan.
“We have nothing against Honasan but some of us got disappointed when he filed his candidacy and said that he would be happy to get support from anyone, from any side. In effect, he was opening himself to the TEAM Unity,” she said.
“He was a little too eager to ask assistance from each side,” she said. ”If it’s true that he’s part of Oakwood mutiny, that flip-flopping is too quick. His long disappearance, what’s that all about? He has to clarify that,” said Navarro, referring to the shortlived rebellion by junior officers and soldiers in July 2003 that Honasan had allegedly masterminded. Trillanes had been part of that uprising.
Both are facing coup d’etat charges, although Honasan has been allowed to post bail.
Unless Honasan clarified his stand on the many issues surrounding the country, Navarro said it would be difficult for the civil society to believe his sincerity as an independent candidate.
Maceda admitted that while he had been rooting for Honasan, he could no longer insist on his inclusion in the opposition even if there was an available slot after Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan of the LP decided to run as an independent.
Maceda pointed out that some key opposition allies like Susan Roces, widow of the late presidential aspirant Fernando Poe Jr.; and Rez Cortez, actor and known supporter of Poe; and the LP had each endorsed a 12th candidate.
Roces and Cortez are backing independent senatorial bet and actor Richard Gomez while the LP-wing of Drilon is supporting the candidacy of Pangilinan.
Maceda said he was printing ballots containing the names of all 11 opposition candidates and Honasan.
GO spokesman Adel Tamano also ruled out the possibility of Honasan joining the opposition, citing its commitment with the LP not to get a replacement for Pangilinan.
“The Genuine Opposition has already expressed its opinion that we had agreements with our coalition partners, particularly the Liberal Party that we will not be taking in another candidate or a guest candidate,” Tamano said.
Meanwhile, Maceda discouraged Honasan from joining the administration slate or end up like former senators Vicente “Tito” Sotto and Tessie Aquino-Oreta, who he claimed were rating poorly in the surveys after joining the administration.
Honasan, Sotto, and Oreta were former members of the opposition.
