Senator Gregorio Honasan on Saturday said he is committed in joining the United Nationalist Alliance, headed by former President Joseph Estrada and Vice President Jejomar Binay, in the 2013 election after his meeting with its Executive Committee last month.

Honasan, who was in Bacolod City Saturday to attend the reunion of the Ballesteros clan in Negros Occidental, added that based on the information he received, the Liberal Party, headed by President Benigno Aquino III, is also in serious talks with the Nationalist Peoples Coalition and the Nationalista Party for a possible coalition.

“From the start of my political career, I haven’t been affiliated with any established political party but now I am committed to UNA”, Honasan, who is seeking reelection, said.

He, however, stressed it is too early to talk about political parties’ coalitions as there are pressing problems that the country is facing like the issues on the Scarborough Shoal and poverty, which must be addressed immediately.

Meanwhile, Honasan said it is necessary to start discussions on changing the country’s 1987 Constitution as it was already proven that it has infirmities.

“It is time to begin discussing the weaknesses in the Constitution, but we must start on the economic provisions and on security aspects”, he said.

Honasan gave Aquino a passing grade of seven out of 10, for his performance in the past two years, saying “the President has the political will and the pedigree to govern the country”.

Honasan said that Aquino, who is set to deliver his State of the Nation Address on July 23, has been criticized for many issues but what the people should understand is that being a President is not easy.

“Aquino has set the country in motion but what the Filipinos want to hear from him is where our direction is heading and what are his priorities,” Honasan added.*APN

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