MANILA, Philippines ? Senator Loren Legarda's decision to team up with Senator Manuel Villar does not translate to the support of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) for the presidential bid of Villar, an official of the NPC said Tuesday.

Valenzuela Representative Rex Gatchalian, NPC spokesman, said that the party gave its consent to Legarda after she made up her mind to be the runningmate of Villar, standard-bearer of the Nacionalista Party (NP).

"Senator Legarda of the NPC will be the guest candidate under the Nacionalista Party of Senator Manuel Villar," Gatchalian told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.

He said Legarda's platform conformed with that of Villar's, which made her decide to accept the offer to be his runningmate.

But Gatchalian clarified that there was no coalition yet between the NP and the NPC.

"We are still finalizing our consultation process before we make a definitive position," he added.

He reiterated that the NPC could decide to support a presidential candidate or repeat its 2004 strategy where party members were given the free choice on whom to support.

"We don't want to preempt the consultation process, all possibilities are open at this point," Gatchalian added.