NPC still undecided on presidential bet

MANILA, Philippines – The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), which considers itself the second largest political group after the ruling Liberal Party (LP), remains undecided on the presidential candidate it will support.

“Our party leadership wants that there is unanimity on the candidates for president and vice president we will support. As of now, such unanimity has not been attained,” Cebu Rep. Joseph Ace Durano told reporters yesterday.

As a result, he said each NPC member is free to make a choice.

However, he said many party members have opted to support the ticket of Sens. Grace Poe and Francis Escudero.

Durano is campaign manager of the Poe-Escudero team. He served as tourism secretary under the Arroyo administration and spokesman for the Lakas-dominated Team Unity ticket in the 2007 elections. The opposition clobbered the administration Team Unity slate.

The NPC had held separate dialogues with Poe, LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga, the party’s spokesman, earlier said individual preferences of members make it difficult for their party to decide on the candidates it will support.

Former Pangasinan representative Mark Cojuangco, son of NPC founder and chairman emeritus Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., has publicly endorsed Binay.

Before NPC started its presidential vetting process, 12 party members had a breakfast meeting with Roxas.

Escudero was a member of the Cojuangco coalition until October 2009 when he resigned. He was then eyeing the presidency in the 2010 elections.

He said a politician did not need a political group to aspire for the presidency or vice presidency.

He and Poe are gunning for the two top posts as independent candidates.