NPC endorsement of Poe won’t affect Binay’s chances, spox says

The endorsement by the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) of the presidential bid of Sen. Grace Poe would not affect the chances in the presidency of Vice President Jejomar Binay, his party spokesperson said Monday.

In an interview after a campaign sortie in Las Piñas city, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) spokesperson Mon Ilagan doubts that the support of the NPC is solid for the presidential bid of Poe, who is running as an independent but with the NPC’s backing.

READ: Poe, Escudero finally get NPC’s endorsement

Ilagan said Binay has several longtime friends in the NPC back when he was Makati mayor.

“Sa NPC, may mga malalim na kaibigan si Vice President Binay noong siya ay naging mayor ng Makati, so hindi naman masasabi na solid ang buong NPC kahit may endorso kay Senator Grace Poe,” Ilagan said.

Ilagan said Binay is confident he has the advantage with his face-to-face campaign throughout different barangays.

“Lamang kalye. Man on the street. And he wants to do his campaign face to face. Ang partido, definitely makakatulong. Pero what is more important with the campaign is your face-to-face relationship with the people,” Ilagan said.

Ilagan said even former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco, the son of NPC Chairman Emeritus and businessman Eduardo “Dangding” Cojuangco, is rooting for Binay in the coming elections.

It was Mark Cojuangco who lobbied for Binay at a meeting between NPC and Binay on Sept. 2015. Cojuangco is gunning for the gubernatorial seat this year.

“I think what’s more important is buo at solid ang core support ni Vice President Binay. Mahirap na magkaroon ng pundasyon. Kung magsisimula ka sa ibaba, sa grassroots level, napakahirap gawin kaysa sa itaas pagdating dito sa pulitika,” Ilagan said.

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.

READ: Poe ‘extremely grateful’ for NPC’s endorsement—spokesman

Binay is a frontrunner in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, but he saw his lead cut down.

According to the latest SWS survey conducted Feb. 5 to 7 among 1,200 respondents, Binay’s survey ratings dipped to 29 percent from 31 percent in January.

Poe and Davao city Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, meanwhile, are statistically tied at 24 percent. JE