Nacionalista Party members to join House majority - Villar

MANILA, Philippines - Nacionalista Party president Sen. Manny Villar announced that the party's members will join the majority in the House of Representatives.

“The NP and LP have good relationship in the House. We will be in the majority. Of course, one cannot definitely say that it will be solid or that 100 percent NP members will be with the majority,” Villar said.

“For one reason or another, a member or two will join the minority, but we will not prevent them. We will respect their decision,” he added.

Asked if Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos will be joining the minority, Villar said he has not discussed the matter with the former first lady.

“We had a meeting but we have not discussed who among them would want to join the minority and who among them would want to join the majority,” Villar said.

Mrs. Marcos ran under the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), but she is considered allied with the Villar-led NP bloc.

Villar said he was sure NP members will consult him “if they will join the minority.”

NP stalwart Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr said last week that the party wants to ensure that local officials, including Congress representatives, would not be left out in the release of their pork barrel or the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).  

The NP wants to ensure that public services for their constituents in the provinces are taken care of, not sacrificed apparently arising from any possible conflict with the administration.