Loren staying with NPC despite offers

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Loren Legarda reiterated yesterday that she is staying with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) despite reported moves by the Lakas-Kampi coalition and the Nacionalista Party led by Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. to get her as their vice presidential candidate for the 2010 general elections.

“I am staying with NPC and will push for my pro-people, pro-environment platform. People first before politics,” Legarda said.

Asked who would be her presidential candidate, Legarda would only say that “everything will fall into place” at the right time.

Legarda said whatever happens, she would stay with the opposition in pursuing the vice presidency.

“Yan po ang aking sinasabi, mananatili ako sa opposition, Hindi ko puedeng sagutin ang mga naging kasalanan ng administration. Ako ay mananatiling opposition. Pro-people, pro-environment, pro-God ( That’s what I’ve been saying. I can not answer for the sins of the administration. I will remain an opposition),” she said in an interview over dzBB radio yesterday.

Legarda dismissed as mere allegations reports that NPC chairman Danding Cojuangco has decided not to bankroll the presidential candidacy of fellow NPC partymate Sen. Francis Escudero.

“Ito’y ugong. Ugong lang. Hindi ko naman masasagot iyon. Hindi ko po naririnig ang ugong ng politika. Naririnig ko po ang ugong ng kagutom. Yung batingaw ng gutom (These are just allegations. I can’t answer that. What I’m hearing is the cry of the hungry),” said Legarda, who was in a feeding mission in Calauan, Laguna yesterday.

Legarda said she is setting aside her political plans until the filing of candidacy on Nov. 30 as she focuses on her advocacies on environment, health and people empowerment.

On reports that the administration coalition might coalesce with NPC, Legarda said she will abide by the party decision provided it would help her push for the realization of her platform for governance which is focused on good governance, environment, uplifting the lives of overseas Filipino workers, job generation and fighting poverty.

“Plataforma ang aking pinapausad - kung ano ang magiging desisyon ng partido para i-adopt ang plataporma, maraming salamat (I am pushing for my platform, whatever the decision of my party and if they want to adopt my platform, I am very thankful),” she said.

Legarda maintained that now is not the time to talk politics especially when the country is still reeling from the devastation caused by tropical storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng.”

“Dahil bago man kumandidato ang isang tao, dapat maliwanag ang kanyang mga nagawa, ginagawa ukol sa mga serbisyo sa taong bayan na matagal ng naghihirap. Kaya yun po ang gusto kong bigyan ng pansin. Hindi kung sino ang ka-tandem o anong partido dahil hindi po nakakain ng tao po iyon (Because before a person decides to run, what he did for the people should be clear, how he served the people who have long suffered. That is what I want to give attention to, not on whoever will be my partner or party because you can’t feed these to people),” she said.

No talks with Gibo, Villar

Legarda branded as speculations reports of her team up with Villar, who has not announced who his running mate would be. Legarda also downplayed reports that there are efforts from the camp of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro to get her as running mate.

A highly reliable source has revealed that Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno had talked with Legarda twice, first at her residence in Makati City, and again before the interior secretary announced his withdrawal from his VP bid. This fueled talks that Legarda is being courted by the administration coalition to be Teodoro’s running mate. While Legarda did not deny the talks, Puno said this was not true.

“Those are just speculations by media. In all fairness to Sec. Teodoro and Sen. Manny Villar, I haven’t seen nor talked with them. These are all speculations by media because I did not mention who my tandem would be (last Firday). This is because I did not want to use my humanitarian event to (turn into) a political convention,” Legarda said.

Legarda was concerned that the alleged backdoor channeling would hurt members of the NPC who have supported her VP bid.

“Ayokong sumama ang loob sa aking kasamahan sa NPC. Liliwanagin ko po, wala po akong pag-uusap with Sec. Teodoro at Sen. Villar ( I don’t want my partymates to resent me. I will make this clear, I did not talk with Sec. Teodoro and Sen. Villar),” she said.

Legarda maintained that she is more focused on looking for a running mate who will also carry a platform of government similar to hers.

Her platform included the fight against poverty, loss of jobs and protecting the environment.

Legarda said she was grateful for the trust and confidence shown to her by some quarters but she will remain with the political opposition.

“Magpapasalamat po ako sa magandang hangarin ng lahat. Nililiwanag ko po, ako ay mananatili sa opposition at isusulong ang aking maliwanag na plataforma. Dapat pong itaas sa mataas na antas ang pultika sa ating bansa (Once again, I will make this clear, I will remain in the opposition and push for my platform. We should raise the level of politics in the country),” she added.