Gatchalian may run as common NPC, UNA bet

VALENZUELA Representative Sherwin Gatchalian who is eyeing the Senate in 2016 said he may be chosen as a guest candidate of Vice President Jejomar Binay even if he would run under his long time party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

“Pwede naman eh. Dito sa atin, allowed ang guest and common candidates,” Gatchalian said when asked during a press conference if he is still considering defecting to UNA.

Gatchalian had been invited by Binay to run for Senate under UNA because Gatchalian like Binay hailed from the local government. Gatchalian was former Valenzuela mayor, while Binay ruled Makati for 20 years.

Binay has also considered Gatchalian as his potential running mate for the 2016 elections.

But Gatchalian had been noticeably absent in the July 1 launch of UNA as a formal political party for the 2016 elections.

Gatchalian had also not been seen with Binay since the NPC acting President, Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, said majority of the party is backing Senators Grace Poe for president and Francis “Chiz” Escudero for vice president in 2016.

The NPC had met twice with Poe, whose father the late action star Fernando Poe Jr. the NPC supported in the 2004 elections, and Escudero, its long-time member since 1998 before he bolted in 2009.

Gatchalian denied that Binay is harboring ill feelings against him.

“Wala naman,” he said when asked.

He said he has just talked with Binay last month over personal matters.

Gatchalian said he has always told UNA that he would be staying with NPC.

“From day one, I told the UNA group that I would be staying with NPC which has been my party for 15 years,” he said.

He said he would tag along with Binay in his tour around the country if invited.

Asked if he would choose Poe over Binay, Gatchalian said he would follow the party decision.

“Antayin ko na lang ang partido para klaro. Mahirap pangunahan ang partido,” Gatchalian said.

“That’s why we have a party – for a unified stand. If we do not have a unified stand, we will not have the second biggest party,” he added

Aggabao has said the NPC would only announce its support for Poe and Escudero if they could finally announce their candidacies already.

The NPC is pressuring Poe and Escudero to announce their candidacies following a series of failed negotiations between President Benigno Aquino III and Poe and Escudero in a bid to convince them to run alongside Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the Liberal Party’s anointed one who has fared poorly in the voters preference polls.

The NPC is the second largest political party in Congress next to President Aquino’s Liberal Party. It has two senators, some 40 House of Representatives members, 22 city mayors and 14 provincial governors.