NPC vows full support for LP Senate bets

MANILA, Philippines — The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) on Wednesday insisted it would support the Liberal Party’s 12 senatorial bets.

The remark was made  after Mark Cojuangco, son of  President Benigno Aquino’s uncle, NPC founder and president emeritus Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, issued a statement saying that NPC would only support three senatorial candidates from the ruling party.

“There is no truth to the news report that the NPC is breaking its partnership agreement with the LP,” said NPC spokesman and Valenzuela Representative Rex Gatchalian.

“None of the party officials made that statement. The party is steadfast in working towards the electoral success of the coalition candidates,” said Gatchalian.

In a press conference organized by rice producers and farmers on Tuesday, Cojuangco lambasted the supposed political harassment by the Aquino administration against NPC members Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino and Pangasinan Representative Jesus Celeste.

The two officials are facing murder charges for the death of Infanta Mayor Ruperto Martinez.

“Hindi naman nila tinutupad ang usapan eh. Lahat ng local candidates namin kinakalaban nila, so ano ang ibig sabihin noon,” said Cojuangco, a former Pangasinan representative.

Some NPC leaders also felt that only a few of the bets in the LP’s senatorial ticket were good enough, he added.

“We want to select the candidates we believe are good for PNoy’s success. I don’t think all that he picked are good for his success,” said the former Pangasinan lawmaker.

Cojuangco said that the party would only support three candidates, two of them from the NPC.

Senator Loren Legarda is the lone NPC member running under the LP coalition.

He named Senator Francis Escudero as one of the said bets even though the re-electionist senator was no longer an NPC member.

But Gatchalian maintained “the NPC will continue to support the President and his reform agenda till his last day in office.”