Honasan to govern under BBM-Sara senate slate, contrasts past toppling
By Daine Mariel Chua
Despite the contrast to his record of helping topple Ferdinand Marcos, former Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Gringo Honasan will lead with the late dictator's son as he gripped a spot in the 2022 senatorial slate of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
In a press release on Friday, February 4, Marcos expressed potential in governing with Honasan, baring him as the latest addition in their senatorial bets this upcoming elections.
“We are pleased that he is now part of our senatorial slate. We believe that Senator Gringo will accomplish a lot in the Senate, coming up with laws that will help ensure better lives for our countrymen,” said Marcos.
Moreover, Honasan is set under the same roof with other senatorial bets Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, Lawyer Larry Gadon, Former Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, Antique Representative Loren Legarda, Former Palace spokesperson Harry Roque, Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Former Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro, Former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, and current senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Sherwin Gatchalian.
Honasan’s background reveals multiple served terms from 1995 to 2004 and 2007 to 2019 in the senate and a term as DICT secretary appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
During the 2010 to 2013 senate term, Honasan worked together with Marcos and eyed a comeback under the BBM-Sara slate after the expired senate term last 2019.
In addition, as one of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) founders during the 1986 People Power Revolution, he set a foot in ousting the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who is the father of his leader in current political standing.
The senatorial endorsement contrasts with Honasan’s past political vision that he even rolled a coup attempt against former President Corazon Aquino.
However, on January 21, his Reform Party officially backed Marcos as the president and Duterte as the vice president in a resolution statement.
“With our senatorial slate in the Senate, we will achieve our vision of steering the country towards greatness. We have the common vision of making every Filipino proud of our race. Gusto naming ang Pilipino ay taas noo kahit kanino,” the former senator claimed.
The BBM-Sara tandem, UniTeam, is now set to support Honasan as part of their senatorial ticket in 2022 polls.
Edited by Phylline Cristel Calubayan