The Nacionalista Party (NP) will not impose on its members which vice presidential candidate to support in the 2016 elections in the event that three of its stalwarts decide to seek the second highest national post, Sen. Cynthia Villar said on Tuesday.
Sen. Villar, wife of NP President and former Senator Manuel “Manny” Villar, said the party will not choose whom among Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos to officially endorse in next year’s polls.
“Wish ni [former] Sen. [Manny] Villar, neutral na lang kasi mahirap pumili (Sen. Villar wishes it to be neutral because it’s difficult to choose). Free zone,” Villar told reporters in an ambush interview.
“‘Pag free zone mas better, walang sama ng loob sa’yo kasi wala ka namang kinampihan. Lalo naman kapag pumili ka, lalong magagalit ‘yung hindi mo pinili,” she added.
(It’s better if it’s a free zone; there will be no grudges because you didn’t choose sides. If you choose to support one, the others will become disgruntled.)
Villar said it was up to party members to decide whom they will support in an individual capacity.
“Siguro ‘yung mga members namin mamimili na lang sila, and then susuportahan sila ng ibang partido, mga kaibigan nila,” Villar said.
(Our members will choose for themselves, and then they’ll be supported by another party, their friends.)
“Sinong pipiliin mo? Mahirap mamili, parang may favoritism… Okay naman silang lahat, it’s very hard to choose. Sabi naman nila hindi sila mag-aaway eh,” she stressed.
(Who will you choose? It’s hard to choose, it can come across as favoritism… All of them are great; it’s very hard to choose. They said they won’t be competing.)
But Villar said the NP was open to support and endorse all three senators if they had to.
“Eh ‘di tutulungan lahat… Tutulong din… ‘Pag naka-file na silang lahat para alam namin kung ano pag-uusapan namin. Hirap din silang mag-decide for themselves,” she said, adding that the NP will hold a meeting soon not to talk about which candidate to endorse but to lay down party rules and guidelines.
(We will help them all… when they’ve filed their candidacy so that we all know what to talk about. They themselves find it difficult to decide for themselves.)
Cayetano on Tuesday announced that he will run for vice president in 2016. Trillanes also previously expressed intent that he will run for the same position next year. Marcos, meanwhile, is also tipped to seek higher post.
READ: Alan Cayetano: I am running for vice president
Saying that the vice presidential race will be a “tight” one, Villar described her colleagues and party mates as “unstoppable” and “brave.”
“Hindi kayang pigilan. Matatapang. Siguro may tinatatago silang lakas. We’re known for that… That means ang partido mo good quality may mga kandidato. Matatapang kami; may fighting spirit. Trait nila yun eh: matatapang at matitigas ang ulo,” the lady senator said.
(They can’t be stopped and they’re brave. They have hidden strengths. We’re known for that. That only shows that the party has good quality candidates. We have a fighting spirit. It’s their trait: brave and unrelenting.)
“Maganda namang kakampi ‘yun eh. I like them, kaya okay lang (They’re good allies. I like them, so it’s great),” she added.
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