Villar: Nacionalista Party has enough resources

MANILA, Philippines - Nacionalista Party president Sen. Manny Villar Jr. downplayed talks that his party is now merging with the administration Liberal Party, led by President Aquino, to forge a formidable team for the 2013 midterm elections.

“We don’t need anybody, we have the resources and manpower to campaign,” Villar said.

Villar was not keen to talk about coalitions when asked about the statements of LP stalwart and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad that LP and NP could become coalition partners.

“Siyempre lahat nag-uusap (Of course, everyone’s talking),” he added.

Villar neither confirmed nor denied Abad’s statements but he said the political realignments won’t have any bearing on the way the NP bloc will vote in the trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“Walang kinalaman yun, hindi ako maapektuhan ng mga ganyan (That has nothing to do with it, I won’t be affected),” he added.

Villar said he and his partymates think it is too early to even talk about political coalitions, but added that the NP is open to talk to the LP or any other political party.

Villar’s wife ex-Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar is reportedly running for the Senate but the senator doused reports that she has been included in the senatorial slate of the LP nor the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), the coalition formed by former President Joseph Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) and PDP-Laban led by Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“Cynthia, who is a member of NP, will run with NP,” he said.

Aside from Mrs. Villar, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is also seeking re-election. Cayetano is NP secretary-general.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said he is running as guest candidate of LP.