Binay no shoo-in for NPC backing

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philipines–The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) has yet to decide on who to endorse for the presidency in 2016, according to Sen. Vicente Sotto III, contrary to reports that the party was endorsing Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Sotto said the party has yet to meet and discuss the matter, either formally or informally. None of the party leaders has mentioned anything about it to him, either.

If ever, some of the party’s members may have made up their minds who they want to support for president in the next elections, but as for the NPC, it has no official stand yet, said Sotto.

“As of the moment, I still stand by the marching orders that I got from Ambassador [Eduardo] Danding [Cojuangco] and our leaders. As far as I know, until now, we are in partnership with the President, not any political party. Not his party or any political party,” he said in an interview.

But he also said he expects the NPC to meet soon to discuss the issue of whom to support for president.

The meeting might take place during Congress’ recess, which would be from March 21 to May 3, he said.

He noted that the election calendar was expected to start soon, with the filing of the certificates of candidacy scheduled in October.

Binay has announced early on his plans to seek the presidency in 2016. He is expected to run under the banner of the United Nationalist Alliance.