NPC not pushing for 12 Team PNoy candidates

FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A leader of the Nationalist People’s Coalition on Saturday said Saturday the party had long decided to turn its back on the Team PNoy coalition ticket, opting instead to campaign exclusively for its members and an independent ally running for the Senate.

“Our displeasure was only increased when the issue versus Loren (Legarda) came out,” Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III told the Inquirer.

Sotto said the NPC never campaigned for all of President Aquino’s chosen senatorial candidates because the Chief Executive’s party pitted Liberal Party members against NPC incumbent officials in  local and congressional district elections.

Asked if the NPC would still campaign for the Team PNoy slate, Sotto said, “It was never that way for us.”

“Aside from Loren, NPC [supports its members] Jack (Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile), Manong Ernie (former Senate President Ernesto Maceda) and guest Gringo (Sen. Gregorio Honasan),” Sotto said. “So, no 12-0 for NPC from Day One.”

Enrile, Maceda and Honasan are running under Team PNoy’s rival coalition, the United Nationalist Alliance.

Reelectionist Legarda has topped almost all surveys but has recently come under fire for her alleged non-disclosure for several years of a pricey property in New York.

Legarda insisted she had dutifully complied with the law on statements of assets, liabilities and net worth with respect to the property.

She blamed the negative publicity to a smear campaign she attributed to a fellow administration candidate, but she didn’t name the person.