THE UniTeam has adopted veteran legislator former senator and Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gringo Honasan as the 11th member of its senatorial ticket.

“We are pleased that he is now part of our senatorial slate. We believe that Sen. Gringo will accomplish a lot in the Senate, coming up with laws that will help ensure better lives for our countrymen,” Partido Federal ng Pilipinas standard-bearer Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. said.

Honasan, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, had a colorful career in the military before he entered politics in 1995 when he won a seat in the Senate.

He served as senator from 1995 to 2004 and from 2007 to 2019.

In his tenure at the Senate, Honasan authored and co-authored the Clean Air Act of 1999, Clean Water Act, the National Security Policy, Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2009, the Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms Law (CARPER), among others.

Honasan also chaired significant committees in the Upper Chamber, such as the Committee on National Defense and Security, and Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Honasan as secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology after his term ended in 2019.

“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,” Bongbong stressed.

In a related development, Honasan’s Reform Party has officially named Marcos and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte as its presidential and vice-presidential candidates in the coming May 9 elections.

In a resolution issued on January 21, 2022, but was made public on Friday, February 4, 2022, signed by its president James A. Layug and other key officials, the party resolved to declare their support for the candidacies of Bongbong and Inday Sara.

“Whereas, in line with the Reform Party’s vision to build a strong Filipino Nation, that guarantees liberty, equality and prosperity for all … It shall establish alliances with other political organizations that can serve as key partners in the pursuit of meaningful social, political, and economic reforms in the country for the benefit of Filipino people,” the resolution read.

“Resolved, as it is hereby resolved to ADOPT the BBM- Sara UniTeam with Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos as official Reform Party candidate for President and Mayor Sara Duterte as the Reform Party candidate for Vice President,” a portion of the resolution also said.

Layug and his fellow Reform Party officials said that they decided to choose Bongbong and Sara because they carry the vision that their party believes in. They are also convinced of their capability to lead and continue with the programs started by the incumbent Duterte administration such as Build, Build, Build, plans to enhance the country’s digital infrastructure, their anti- corruption and anti-drugs advocacies and many others.