LP ‘unfazed’ by NPC support for Poe, Escudero

Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC

While it respects the Nationalist People’s Coalition’s (NPC) decision to support the tandem of presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe and her running mate Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero in May, the Liberal Party (LP) remains unfazed, Senate President Franklin Drilon said on Tuesday.

“Ginagalang natin ang desisyon ng NPC (We respect NPC’s decision),” Drilon, vice chairman of LP, said in an interview over DZRH on Tuesday, a day after the NPC formally Poe and Escudero.

READ: Poe, Escudero finally get NPC’s endorsement

“Sa loob ng maraming taon ay sinuportahan din ng NPC ang ‘Daang Matuwid’ ng Pangulong Aquino at ang ibig sabihin noon ay ay naniniwala sila sa ‘Daang Matuwid,’ subalit nirerespeto natin ang kanilang desisyon,” the Senate leader added.

(For many years, NPC supported President Aquino’s “righteous path,” which means that it believes in the “righteous path,” but we respect their decision.)

NPC, the second largest political group in the country, was part of an LP-led coalition in the 2013 elections.

Despite the endorsement, Drilon said the LP, which is rooting for former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo for president and vice president, respectively, was unfazed as it remains the biggest political group in the country with the biggest political machinery.

“Nananatili ang Partido Liberal na pinakamalaking partido sa buong bansa, at malawak ang aming makinarya, at hindi po kami nababahala sa naging desisyon ng NPC,” he said.

(The Liberal Party remains the biggest party in the entire country, it has an expansive machinery that’s why we are not bothered by NPC’s decision.)

“Ganoon talaga ang demokrasya. May iba’t-ibang plataporma kaming inihaharap, sa amin po ay “Daang Matuwid,” ang record po ng Aquino administration ang aming inihaharap,” he further said.

(That’s the way democracy works. We present different platforms; we present the “righteous path” and the record of the Aquino administration.)

Drilon pointed out though that the NPC’s support for the Poe-Escudero tandem was not solid, noting that some NPC members like congressmen Jun Aharon and George Arnaiz continue to support the LP bets. IDL

READ: NPC divided over Poe-Escudero endorsement