NPC poised to back reelectionist senators, including Aquino

Sen. Vicente Sotto III on Friday said the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) was poised to support incumbent senators seeking reelection in 2019.

Sotto said Senators Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, and former Sen. Pia Cayetano would be free to join the NPC’s candidates in the local elections during the campaign.

Also being considered are Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, who heads the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, Sen. JV Ejercito, and former Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Lito Lapid.

He said the NPC might also support opposition Sen. Bam Aquino, a member of the Liberal Party, whose uncle, NPC chair Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, is expected to back him in the race. —LEILA B. SALAVERRIA