MANILA (April 16, 2012) – Malacanang on Sunday said President Benigno Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay would eventually part ways come the 2016 elections, ruling out a coalition between Mr. Aquino’s Liberal Party and Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance.
But deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said she was confident that Binay would remain supportive of the administration’s reform agenda between now and the next presidential elections.

“There will be an inevitable parting of ways because they [Mr. Aquino and Binay] belong to different political parties,” Valte said.

“There will come a time they will be endorsing different standard bearers of their respective parties. What is important is [Binay’s] support to the reform agenda of the Aquino administration.”

Binay has been fortifying his party’s senatorial lineup for the 2013 midterm polls. His PDP-Laban party recently coalesced with former president Joseph Estrada’s Partido ng Masang Pilipino to form the United Nationalist Alliance.

House Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III said Estrada and Binay’s move for the midterm polls was “very normal political interaction.”
“The [Liberal Party] is not threatened by the coalition,” he said.

“It’s the right of political parties to form coalitions if it is within their interest.”

Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, the Liberal Party’s secretary general, agreed with the idea.

“What is important with coalition-building is we get like-minded parties and candidates on board who support the reform program of the President,” Abaya said.

Binay’s party’s possible senatorial candidates are Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay, businessman Joey de Venecia III, and Senator Koko Pimentel.