Nacionalista may support Poe but not Escudero, says Trillanes

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV (left). INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

The Nacionalista Party (NP) might support Senator Grace Poe but not Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero if they both run for a higher office in 2016, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said on Thursday.

Trillanes, an NP member,  also denied  reports  that the party being headed by former Senator Manny Villar, and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) of  Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. are forming a tactical alliance to back   both Poe and Escudero.

READ: NP, NPC go for Poe-Escudero

Poe and Escudero were the voters’ top choice for president and vice president next year based on the latest Pulse Asia survey.  But the two have yet to declare whether or not  would seek a higher  post   next year.

But Trillanes, who has declared his intention to run for vice president in  2016, said the reported tactical alliance being forged by the parties was just  Escudero’s  “propaganda play.”

“Because the NP will not carry both… At least NP may carry or adopt Poe but definitely not Escudero,” he said in an interview.  The senator confirmed making the statements in a separate text message.

Asked why not Escudero, Trillanes said: “He is not  a member of the party.”

Both Poe and Escudero are independents though they ran under the administration’s coalition ticket  in 2013 like Trillanes.