Grace Poe, Escudero invited in NPC meet to discuss 2016 plans

Senators Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), the second biggest political group in the country, will hold a general assembly Tuesday night to discuss their 2016 plans.

Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz Escudero, who are both independent politicians but are being pushed by some NPC members to be the party’s bets in 2016, were invited to attend the meeting, according to a source who requested anonymity.

Escudero confirmed he was invited by the NPC but clarified that it was not a party meeting.

“Yes, but it’s not a meeting po. NPC invited me to join them in their weekly socials/gathering,” he said in a text message to reporters.

Two NPC members — Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Valenzuela Representative Sherwin Gatchalian—told the media about the NPC meeting in separate interviews at the Senate.

“Tonight, we have an official meeting of all NPC members precisely to talk about political plans,” Gatchalian told reporters after attending a hearing in the Senate.

Gatchalian said NPC chairman emeritus Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco would not be able to attend the meeting but said other party leaders like its chairman, Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy, and its president, Deputy Speaker Giorgidi Aggabao, along with 42 NPC congressmen and other party members are expected to attend the gathering.

“Paag-uusapan na namin ‘yung 2016 plans, kung ano po ang plano ng partido tsaka no po ‘yung saloobin ng bawat miyembro,” said the congressman.

(We will talk about political plans, about the party’s plans and about the views of the party’s members.)

Gatchalian though expressed doubts that the party would be able to come up with a decision after the meeting but said that they would at least be able to listen to the sentiments of each member.

At present, he said, the NPC has no official stand about the 2016 elections although some of its members have expressed their inclination to support either Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II’s or Poe’s possible presidential bid.

READ: NP, NPC go for Poe-Escudero

Poe and Escudero, who have been leading the presidential and vice presidential surveys, have yet to declare whether or not they would seek a higher post next year.

“Wala pa. It’s very clear that the party position is to wait for the official declaration so ngayon po kasi maraming kinakausap na partido. So, hintayin na lang ng members kung ano ang final decision ng partido and we expect everyone to toe the line,” Gatchalian added.

(The party has no position yet. It’s very clear that the party position is to wait for the official declaration because as of now, the party is still talking to several people. So, the members will just have to wait for the party’s final decision and we expect everyone to toe the line.)

Sotto confirmed the meeting but refused to give further details, saying he might not be authorized to speak about it.

On Tuesday morning, Roxas met with several members of the NPC in an effort to win their support in 2016. IDL

READ: Roxas woos members of pro-Grace Poe NPC