Honasan asks for more time to think it over
Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan 2nd looms as the fourth lawmaker from Bicol who will throw his hat into the vice presidential race in next year’s elections.
This possibility came about after the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) selection committee announced that it has formally offered Honasan to be the running mate of its standard-bearer, Vice President Jejomar Binay.
”After consulting leaders of the party, the selection committee of the UNA hereby announces that it is formally offering to Sen. Gregorio ‘Gringo’ Honasan the position of UNA vice presidential standard-bearer for the 2016 elections,” UNA president Tobias Tiangco said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Senator Honasan brings to the tandem his long years of service and experience as a soldier and a legislator. 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,” Tiangco added.
When asked for his reaction, Honasan said he felt honored but asked for more time to consult his family for the most important decision of his life.
”I have not formally received the letter but I would like to ask for more time to consult my family. I cannot separate my family and my country whenever I make major decisions like this,” he added.
The 67-year-old Honasan is a cashiered Army colonel turned lawmaker.
The vice president of UNA, he is in charge of building up the opposition party’s grassroots network.
He said the party has not imposed a deadline but he would have to make a decision before the start of the filing of certificates of candidacy on October 12.
Honasan on Monday expressed openness to the possibility of being the vice presidential candidate of Binay in 2016.
According to him, he will let his party decide on the matter, saying he will have no choice but to accept it.
“I will subordinate myself to the decision of the party which I’m helping organize,” Honasan added.
“If my family and my friends cannot be behind me 100 percent, I cannot be 100 percent behind anybody, including the Vice President and that’s not his decision to make,” he said.
If ever Honasan decides to accept the UNA’s offer, he will become the fourth from Bicol to run for Vice President.
Earlier, Senators Francis Escudero from Sorsogon and Antonio Trillanes 4th from Albay and Camarines Sur congresswoman Leni Robredo declared their intention to run for the second-highest position in the country.
Honasan traces his roots to Sorsogon.
Senators Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Alan Peter Cayetano are also running for Vice President.
With PNA