Arroyo allies form new party, vow support to P-Noy gov’t

The newly formed National Unity Party, which are made up mostly of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s allies, will cooperate and support the new administration, says a Cebu legislator.

Rep. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia (Cebu 3rd district) and one of the members of the NUP, said yesterday that the new party would support President Benigno Aquino III’s administration since the party and the administration had a “common agenda” that would be for the national interest.

The NUP are made up of government officials and legislators not allied with the Aquino administration.

One of the founders of the party is Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

Garcia said  38 congressmen were already with NUP and there were still others who expressed their intention to join.

Rep. PJ Garcia said the One Cebu party headed by Governor Garcia would remain a separate  party but would still be allied with the NUP.

“In every new administration there is always a call for unity from the new administration to achieve our national goal. And how can we achieve that – by supporting the agenda of the new administration,” Congressman Garcia said.

Garcia also clarified their affiliation with the new party and their former political party – Lakas Kampi –  headed by former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA).

“Once the NUP is fully organized, then of course, it will be automatic that our former political party affiliation would change to a new party. It’s not a question of leaving GMA or not. She is no longer the president,” he said.

“Its a question of whether we cooperate and support the new administration or not. That is the idea behind NUP,” he added.

NUP also presently includes independent Reps. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu 4th district), and Luigi Quisumbing (Cebu 6th district).

Rep. Pablo Garcia (Cebu 2nd district) is the interim chairman of the party.

Representative Salimbangon said that he joined the new party not for political convenience but for the development and the good of his district.

“Unsa man po’y makuha namo kung magpabilin mi sa opposition? Para lang gyud barugan ang among garbo? (What would we get if we remain in the opposition? Just to satisfy our pride?),” he asked.

Salimbangon was a member of Kampi when he won in last year’s election.

He said he and other members of NUP in Congress already informed former President  Arroyo through House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte and Arroyo did not object to their move.

“We are the representatives of the people in our respective districts and in my district (4th district of Cebu), Aquino won with a wide margin. He had the support of my constituents in my district so the people expect me to also support him,” Salimbangon said.

Congressman PJ Garcia also dismissed speculations that the group was forming political alliances with President Aquino for future political exercises.

He said it’s “too early” to speculate on that.

“At this time, we may call it a political alliance. If we support the agenda of the president, then that is a political alliance but if you’re talking about political alliances for future political exercises, that’s a different story because that is too early to talk about that,” he said. /With a report from Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan