LP-NPC coalition talks in the works

Majority Floor Leader Senator Vicente Sotto III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Talks between the Liberal Party (LP) and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) to forge a coalition for the 2013 midterm elections are in full swing, too.

In a phone interview, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, an NPC stalwart, disclosed that the negotiations for the proposed coalition were proceeding smoothly, particularly discussions over local candidates.

Sotto made the disclosure a day after the Nacionalista Party (NP) of Sen. Manuel Villar confirmed to the Inquirer that NP was joining forces with President Aquino’s LP for 2013.

In an interview on Thursday, NP spokesperson Robert “Ace” Barbers told the Inquirer that “it’s just the icing on the cake that’s lacking. It’s baked and ready for serving.”

Agreed in principle

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, one of the three LP top officials, said there had been an agreement in principle to coalesce with NP.

“After we agree on the basis for coalition, we will then move into details—from national to local positions,” he said, explaining that the negotiations centered on local politics since both the LP and the NP have incumbent officials in at least five provinces.

Sotto said thus far more than half of contentious issues concerning local elective positions have been resolved between LP and NPC officials.

The negotiations cover the official candidates of LP-NPC for governor, vice governor, congressman, mayor, vice mayor, city/municipal councilors, and provincial board members.

Both parties have incumbent officials in the provinces who are either seeking reelection, or trading places with relatives or other political allies.

Sotto denied that the NPC had ongoing talks with the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay and former President Joseph Estrada, particularly when it comes to local positions.

Local alliance

“Yes, all local (candidates) of NPC (will run) with LP,” said Sotto.

As regards the party’s senatorial slate, the NPC leadership has yet to decide whether to allow its national candidates to run with UNA, or stick with LP since the NPC has an existing alliance with the ruling party in the House of Representatives.

Three NPC members—Sen. Loren Legarda, Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile and Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian—and party allies, Senators Francis Escudero (independent) and Gregorio Honasan (independent), are being wooed by UNA to join its slate.

The NPC, however, is critical of the way UNA responded to the bad press generated by Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito’s proposal for a “super coalition” between LP and UNA senatorial candidates.

Estrada liked the idea, but said his son floated the idea without consulting the UNA leadership.

Formidable alliance

UNA spokesperson Jose Virgilio Bautista told reporters Thursday that UNA was “already a formidable alliance” between the PDP-Laban and the PMP.

“We don’t need other political parties in the alliance,” said Bautista.

Sotto did not hide his displeasure over Bautista’s pronouncement.

In the phone interview, he posed this question: “Ask him then if they are removing Senators Loren and Gringo, and Representative Jack Enrile (from the UNA senatorial slate) because they are not members of PDP-Laban or PMP.”

‘Super’ slate

On Monday, Ejercito spoke about the possibility of forming a “super senatorial slate” composed of LP and UNA candidates.

Ejercito claimed this was “ideal” since there was no clear-cut line between the opposition and the administration unlike during the Arroyo administration.

On Thursday, Ejercito distanced himself from the issue, saying the super-coalition proposal did not come from him, but from a business group.

In Malacañang, President Aquino’s spokesperson on Friday said he continues to hold Estrada in high regard despite the latter’s harsh criticism amid Malacañang’s dismissal of the floated super coalition.

“I hold the highest respect for the former President and in no way does his criticism of me diminish my utmost regard for the former President,” Lacierda said when asked for his reaction to Estrada’s retort that he was rather arrogant in dismissing the idea of an LP-UNA coalition.

Lacierda said there were fundamental differences between the administration coalition and Estrada’s UNA. “A coalition would not likely be plausible in that case,” he added. With a report from Norman Bordadora