MANILA — “We are having problems because of one reason: Businessmen see the government harassing supporters of VP [Jejomar] Binay,” said United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) president and Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco in a radio interview.
Tiangco claims that UNA is currently having difficulty finding new backers because of pressure from the current administration.
“They think that by openly supporting VP Binay, they should prepare for the government using its powers to pressure them. They don’t want any trouble so they are careful in engaging with us in public functions,” Tiangco explained.
According to Tiangco, UNA’s fundraising efforts prove to be more challenging as more and more businessmen become more concerned about being associated with VP Binay. However, despite said challenge, Tiangco and UNA are confident that they will deliver a complete slate in time.
“We still have financial supporters and nobody has abandoned us so far,” Tiangco pedaled back. “They just don’t want to be identified, they are being careful.”
When asked about Binay’s running mate — or lack of it — Tiangco answered with confidence, “We will find a candidate,” adding that their party’s search committee is currently shuffling through five candidates.
He said the candidates come from different walks of life, but whoever gets chosen as Binay’s running mate for 2016 “should agree to be a working vice president and believe in the Vice President’s goal to ensure that economic growth is felt by the people.”
UNA is set to announce their vice presidential candidate in September.