With Poe-Escudero official, exodus of politicians to NPC begins

Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net

At least two congressmen, one is a member of the Liberal Party, and a hundred other local officials are joining the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) to support the presidential bid of Senator Grace Poe, and her running mate, Senator Francis Escudero.

Caloocan Representative Recom Echiverri, an LP member, and Camarines Sur Representative Rolando Andya, an ally of detained President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, were among those who would take their oath as new members of the NPC.

READ: Escudero: We’re running under Partido Pilipinas

The oath-taking would be held at the NPC’s Club House in New Manila on Friday.

A source said about 120 mayors and vice mayors from different provinces are also joining the NPC to support a Poe-Escudero tandem in 2016

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Andaya, who is a member of Arroyo’s Lakas Party, confirmed this, saying: “More will be joining us.”

“Hindi lang Lakas , I think there will be more congressmen, hindi lang congressmen but other elected officials who would join the bandwagon, “ he said.

“This is just a start, We’re only what? Second day after (Sen. Poe) declared her presidential bid? So I think tuluy-tuloy na,” he further said.

Andaya said he decided to join the NPC, which is expected to endorse Poe and Escudero, because of the “freshness” of the party’s bet for 2016.

He was apparently referring to Poe, a neophyte senator who topped the senatorial race when she first ran in 2013.

“A fresh start is good for the country. The country has been through quite a lot already…I think Grace and Chiz would be the ones to lead the country to fresh start,” said the lawmaker.

And to those criticizing Poe for lack of experience, Andaya said she would not become a number one senator if she were nothing.

“And we’ve seen her, watched conduct herself in committee hearings, quite impressing, very orderly, hindi biased,” he said.

Asked if he was expecting a better treatment for Arroyo under a Poe administration, Andaya said, “Just a fair treatment.” Maila Ager/IDL