MANILA, Philippines - The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) has decided to announce its presidential and senatorial candidates in the May 2010 elections before the end of the month.
The executive committee of the party founded and financed by billionaire businessman and San Miguel Corp. chairman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. made the decision during a meeting on Thursday night.
Former Isabela Rep. Faustino Dy Jr., party president, presided over the meeting.
“We will make the announcement in two weeks,” a congressman who attended the meeting told reporters yesterday. He did not want to be named.
He said the committee is now finalizing the slate in consultation with party officials and regional leaders.
Responding to questions, the congressman said the party is inclined to field Sen. Francis Escudero as its presidential candidate with Sen. Loren Legarda as his running mate.
“But that can still change into a Legarda-Escudero ticket,” he said.
As for NPC’s senatorial candidates, the lawmaker revealed that six names are sure to land in the slate.
He named them as Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano and Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Plaza.
He said NPC would adopt three candidates – Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr.
Enrile and Estrada are expected to run with former President Estrada, who, according to former Senate President Ernesto Maceda, is 95-percent sure to seek the presidency again, while Revilla will most likely be with the administration ticket.
The deposed president is reportedly eyeing Legarda as his running mate.
As for the remaining six senatorial candidates who would complete the ticket, the NPC congressman said the party would soon announce them together with its standard-bearers.
Cojuangco formed NPC in 1992 when he unsuccessfully aspired for the presidency. He lost to Fidel Ramos.