Social:United Nationalist Alliance

Short description: Political party in the Philippines

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 Juan Miguel Zubiri, of whom he had won an election protest after the 2007 election. 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. 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.

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)
• 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.

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.

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

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. However, Pimentel denied that he took a leave of absence from the PDP–Laban presidency.

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. 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." On October 4, UNA announced that Binay's daughter Nancy was their 12th nominee.

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.

2013 election

Candidate	Party	Last position in government	Relatives in government	Elected
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
	Candidate	Vote share	Result	Candidate	Vote share	Result
2016	Jejomar Binay	<div style="position: absolute; background-color:; width: 12%; height: 1.5em;"> 12.73%	Rodrigo Duterte (PDP–Laban)	Gregorio Honasan	<div style="position: absolute; background-color:; width: 1%; height: 1.5em;"> 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 <div style="background-color: ; width: 3%; height: 100%;">	Liberal Party plurality	2013	3 / 12 <div style="background-color: ; width: 25%; height: 100%;">	United Nationalist Alliance	Team PNoy win 9/12 seats
2016	11 / 297 <div style="background-color: ; width: 4%; height: 100%;">	Liberal Party plurality	2016	1 / 12 <div style="background-color: ; width: 8%; height: 100%;">	Single party ticket	Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid win 7/12 seats
2019	0 / 304 <div style="background-color: ; width: 0%; height: 100%;">	PDP–Laban plurality	2019	1 / 12 <div style="background-color: ; width: 8%; height: 100%;">	Single party ticket	Hugpong ng Pagbabago win 9/12 seats
2022	1 / 316 <div style="background-color: ; width: 0.3%; height: 100%;">	PDP–Laban plurality	2022	0 / 12 <div style="background-color: ; width: 0%; height: 100%;">	Single party ticket	UniTeam win 6/12 seats

See also

• Genuine Opposition
• Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino
• Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino
• Puwersa ng Masa
• Team PNoy
• Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid
• Partido Galing at Puso

External links

• United Nationalist Alliance on Twitter