NP may adopt an independent bet for 2016—Cynthia Villar

Senator Cynthia Villar. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Senator Cynthia Villar on Tuesday raised the possibility of the Nacionalista Party (NP) adopting an independent candidate like Senator Grace Poe for the 2016 elections.

“E kung gusto nyang magpa-adopt (If she wants to be adopted),” Villar, wife of NP president and former Senator Manny Villar, told reporters when asked if NP was open to adopt an independent candidate like Poe.

“I think parang ang latest she will run as an independent…(I think the latest is she will run as an independent)” she said of Poe.

Poe has yet to decide whether or not to run for a higher post in 2016 but she was already being floated as possible administration bet along with either Interior Secretary Mar Roxas or Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero as her running mate.

Senator Villar said her husband may no longer seek the presidency in 2016.

Asked that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV was still pushing for the NP president to be its standard-bearer next year, Mrs. Villar said: “Sya ang may gusto nun, hindi si Senator Villar.”

Trillanes, an NP member, has publicly declared his intention to run for vice president in the upcoming elections while his partymate, Senate Majority Leader Alan Cayetano, is eyeing the presidency.

Aside from Trillanes and Cayetano, Senator Villar said another LP member — Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was interested to run in 2016. But she said the three have yet to make a final decision.

“May mga Nacionalista na gustong kumandidato pero hindi pa rin sila sure. I guess we have to wait anyway sa October pa naman ang filing so we’re giving them time to analyze their chances and then we’ll decide,” said Senator Villar.

(There are Nacionalista members who would like to run but they are not sure. I guess we have to wait, anyway the filing is still in October so we’re giving them time to analyze their chances and then we’ll decide)

“It’s up to them to finally decide what they like to do kasi kami naman waiting lang kami (because we’re just waiting),” said Senator Villar.

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