United Nationalist Alliance

United Nationalist Alliance
United Nationalist Alliance
President	Jejomar Binay
Chairman	Nancy Binay
Secretary-General	JV Bautista
Founder	Jejomar Binay ; Joseph Estrada
Founded	April 4, 2012 (electoral alliance) ; July 1, 2015 (political party)
Preceded by	United Opposition
Headquarters	Room 103, G/F ECJ Building, Real cor. Arzobispo Streets, Intramuros, Manila
Ideology	Paternalistic conservatism
Political position	Centre-right
Colors	Orange and Navy blue
Slogan	UNA ang Pilipino (Filipinos first)
Seats in the Senate	1 / 24
Seats in the House of Representatives	1 / 316
Provincial governorships	0 / 81
Provincial vice governorships	3 / 81
Provincial board members	9 / 1,023
	Politics of the Philippines; Political parties; Elections;

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA; IPA: [ʊna]) is a political party in the Philippines. It was created as a multi-party electoral alliance replacing the former United Opposition (UNO) coalition for the 2013 midterm elections, before it was launched as a single political party on July 1, 2015, by Jejomar Binay for his candidacy in the 2016 presidential election.

The acronym "UNA" spells out the Filipino-Spanish word for "first".

History

Formation, 2013 elections (2012–2015)

The Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), headed by former president Joseph Estrada, and the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP–Laban), headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay, signed a coalition agreement on April 4, 2012, for the 2013 elections, forming the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). The two parties had been partners in the United Opposition in the 2007 election, and Estrada and Binay were running mates during the 2010 presidential election. Aquilino Pimentel III, PDP–Laban president, has stated that the UNA's senatorial slate is now more than twelve members and is being trimmed down; he had also expressed reservations on the inclusion of Migz Zubiri, of whom he had won an election protest after the 2007 election.^[2] In March 2014, Binay resign as Chairman of PDP–Laban, as result the PMP party the only primary party of UNA banner.

Binay's presidential bid (2015–2016)

On July 1, 2015, Binay relaunched the United Nationalist Alliance as the major opposition party at the Makati Coliseum in Makati days after he resigned from the Cabinet of President Noynoy Aquino, despite the absence of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada which become neutral due to Sen. Grace Poe possible presidential bid.^[3] Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, was touted a possible running mate, but being 36 years old at that time, he was barred by the Philippine constitution's age requirement of 40 years. Senator Bongbong Marcos was then considered to be his running mate before settling with Senator Gregorio Honasan, who is also the party's vice president.^[4]^[5]

Coalition members

Affiliated local parties

Makatizens United Party – Makati

Former

Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP–Laban) (2012 – March 7, 2014)
One Cebu (1-Cebu) (2016) (switched allegiance to PDP–Laban)
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) Joseph Estrada wing (2012—15)^[6]
Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) Mark Cojuangco wing
Nacionalista Party (NP)
Lakas–CMD

Former affiliated local parties

Asenso Manileño (Progress for Manilans) – Manila (switched allegiance to Aksyon Demokratiko)
Padayon Pilipino (Filipinos Ahead) – Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro
Partido Magdiwang (Magdiwang Party) – San Juan (switched allegiance to PDP-Laban)
Partido Navoteño (Party of the People of Navotas) – Navotas
People's Champ Movement – Sarangani
Team Casimiro – Las Piñas
Timpuyog ti Baguio (Baguio Alliance) – Baguio
Timawa – Iloilo City
Padayon Pilipino (PDP) – Cagayan de Oro
Ugyon Kita Capiz (UK CAPIZ) – Capiz
Abyan Ilonggo – Iloilo
Bukidnon Paglaum Party (BPP) – Bukidnon
Alliance of Parties for Progress – Zamboanga del Norte
Biskeg – Pangasinan
Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija (BALANE) – Nueva Ecija
Lilia Pineda Kambilan – Pampanga
Partido Magdalo – Cavite (switched allegiance to PDP-Laban)
Team Crisologo (formerly Team Un1ty) – Quezon City (District 1)
Dr. Lito Roxas Team Dr. Roxas – Pasay

Despite the similarity in names, the local party United Negros Alliance from Negros Occidental is not related nor affiliated to the party.

Senatorial candidates

On May 3, 2012, Zubiri took an oath to become a member of the PMP; Estrada and Binay were optimistic that Pimentel and Zubiri will be able to reconcile their differences prior to the start of the campaign.^[7]

On May 10, 2012, UNA announced its first five senatorial candidates: re-electionist Sens. Aquilino Pimentel III and Gregorio Honasan, Representatives Jack Enrile and JV Ejercito, and 2010 senatorial candidate Joey de Venecia.^[8]

On June 11, 2012, UNA formally included Zubiri in its line-up, together with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Zambales Representative Mitos Magsaysay.^[9] On June 28, 2012, Pimentel officially declined his spot in the UNA line-up, citing Zubiri's continued inclusion in it.^[10]

The UNA announced on August that former senators Dick Gordon and Ernesto Maceda were a part of their ticket, and that Senator Loren Legarda would be one of the last three candidates yet to be named in their ticket. UNA spokesperson JV Bautista also said that Pimentel has taken a leave of absence as PDP–Laban's presidency, and that PDP–Laban will not be in Pimentel's certificate of nomination as the latter is running under the Liberal Party.^[11] However, Pimentel denied that he took a leave of absence from the PDP–Laban presidency.^[12]

On the first day of filing of certificates of candidacies, senatorial nominees of UNA filed theirs at the Commission on Elections national offices at Intramuros.^[13] Joey de Venecia withdrew from the election as he cited his business endeavors as reasons for his withdrawal; speculation was rife when Lorenzo Tañada III was one of the persons considered to fill in de Venecia's slot in the ticket, but Binay disclosed that Tañada was not in their choices "any more."^[14] On October 4, UNA announced that Binay's daughter Nancy was their 12th nominee.^[15]

On February 21, 2013, UNA dropped Chiz Escudero, Loren Legarda and Grace Poe from their senatorial slate as a result of their non-attendance in their political rallies.^[16]

2013 election

Candidate	Party	Last position in government	Relatives in government
Nancy Binay	UNA	No relevant political background	Vice President Jejomar Binay (father), Makati mayor Elenita Binay (mother), Makati mayor Jun–Jun Binay (brother), congresswoman from Makati Abigail Binay (sister)
Tingting Cojuangco	UNA	former governor of Tarlac (1992–1998)	Congressman from Tarlac Jose Cojuangco Jr. (husband), congressman from Tarlac Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. (cousin), President Benigno Aquino III (nephew), National Youth Commission chairman Bam Aquino (nephew), former Senator Robert Jaworski (brother-in-law), former Pasig Rep. Robert Jaworski Jr. (son-in-law)
JV Ejercito	UNA	Incumbent congressman from San Juan's lone district (since 2010)	President Joseph Estrada (father), San Juan mayor Guia Gomez (mother), Senator Jinggoy Estrada (half-brother), Laguna Governor ER Ejercito (cousin)
Jack Enrile	NPC	Incumbent congressman from Cagayan's 1st district (since 2010)	Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (father), congresswoman from Cagayan Sally Ponce Enrile (wife)
Dick Gordon	UNA	former senator (2004–2010)	Olongapo mayor Katherine K. Gordon (wife), Olongapo councilor John Carlos de los Reyes (nephew)
Gregorio Honasan	UNA	Incumbent senator (since 2007)	None
Ernesto Maceda	UNA	former senator (1971–1972; 1987–1998)	Manila 4th district councilor Edward VP Maceda (son)
Mitos Magsaysay	UNA	Incumbent congresswoman from Zambales' 1st district (since 2004)	Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr. (uncle-in-law), Zambales governor Vic Magsaysay (father-in-law)
Migz Zubiri	UNA	former senator (2007–2011)	Bukidnon vice-governor Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr. (father), congressman from Bukidnon Jose Zubiri III (brother)

2016 election

President: Jejomar Binay (Lost)
Vice-president: Gregorio Honasan (Lost)
Senate Candidates:

Jacel Kiram (Lost)
Alma Moreno Lacsamana (Lost)
Rey Langit (Lost)
Allan Montaño (Lost)
Getulio Napeñas (Lost)
Manny Pacquiao (Won)

2019 election

Nancy Binay (Won)
Dan Roleda (Lost)

2022 election

Jejomar Binay (Lost)

Electoral performance

Presidential and vice presidential elections

Year	Presidential election			Vice presidential election
Year	Candidate	Vote share	Result	Candidate	Vote share	Result
2016	Jejomar Binay	12.73%	Rodrigo Duterte (PDP–Laban)	Gregorio Honasan	1.92%	Leni Robredo (Liberal)
2022	None		Bongbong Marcos (PFP)	None		Sara Duterte (Lakas-CMD)

Legislative elections

Congress of the Philippines
House of Representatives			Senate
Year	Seats won	Result	Year	Seats won	Ticket	Result
2013	8 / 293	Liberal Party plurality	2013	3 / 12	United Nationalist Alliance	Team PNoy win 9/12 seats
2016	11 / 297	Liberal Party plurality	2016	1 / 12	Single party ticket	Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid win 7/12 seats
2019	0 / 304	PDP–Laban plurality	2019	1 / 12	Single party ticket	Hugpong ng Pagbabago win 9/12 seats
2022	1 / 316	PDP–Laban plurality	2022	0 / 12	Single party ticket	UniTeam win 6/12 seats

References

^ Macaraeg, Pauline (January 27, 2019). "Who to Vote For? Get To Know the Political Parties in the Philippines". Esquiremag.ph. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
^ Sy, Marvin (April 4, 2012). "From UNO to UNA, Erap, Binay unite". Philippine Star. Yahoo! Philippines News. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
^ "UNA kicks off party launch sans Erap".
^ "Binay-Marcos: Perfect combination, says UNA official". Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 30, 2015.
^ "Honasan as Binay's VP: 'I have always been a good soldier'". Rappler. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
^ "Estrada, PMP no longer part of UNA, son JV clarifies". Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
^ Evangelista, Kate; Burgonio, TJ (May 3, 2012). "Estrada takes a dig at Lim over Manila's plight". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
^ Clapano, Jose Rodel (May 11, 2012). "UNA bares first 5 senatorial candidates". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
^ Reyes, Fatima; Esplanada, Jerry (June 11, 2012). "Zubiri, Magsaysay, Garcia named to UNA slate; Will Pimentel leave alliance?". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
^ "It's final: Koko won't run under UNA". ABS-CBN News. June 28, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
^ Macaraig, Ayee (August 28, 2012). "Gordon, Maceda running under UNA". Rappler. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
^ Tan, Kimberly Jane (August 29, 2012). "Pimentel denies dropping PDP–Laban presidency". GMA News. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
^ Clapano, Jose Rodel (October 1, 2012). "'Number One' UNA bets file COCs at 1 p.m. on Oct. 1". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
^ Gil C. Cabacungan; Tarra Quismundo; Cathy C. Yamsuan (October 2, 2012). "De Venecia son quits UNA Senate slate at last minute". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
^ Reyes, Fat (October 4, 2012). "UNA names Nancy Binay as 12th senatorial candidate". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
^ "UNA drops 3 senatorial bets, says campaign manager". Philippine Daily Inquirer. February 21, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2013.