Mar seeks NPC support for presidential bid

MANILA, Philippines - Interior Secretary Mar Roxas sought yesterday the backing of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) for his 2016 presidential bid, but the country’s second largest political party said it was still on a “listening mode” before deciding whom to support.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Malacañang is working to keep the coalition with other political parties intact for the race as he remained mum on the statement of independent Sen. Grace Poe that she was feeling the pressure to be Roxas’ running mate.

Roxas, who was endorsed by President Aquino as administration standard-bearer, met over breakfast with several NPC stalwarts led by its secretary general, Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza.

Davao del Sur Gov. Claude Bautista said their billionaire bosses Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. and Ramon Ang instructed them to attend the event, which was described by some as a “meet and greet” activity.

“They (Cojuangco and Ang) instructed us to come here. They said: you go to the headquarters of LP because Sec. Mar will talk to you. So, almost all of us NPC members in the provinces are here,” Bautista added.

Among those who went to the breakfast were Reps. Jun Rodriguez, Rizal; Scott Lanete, Masbate; Henry Pryde Teves, Negros Oriental; George Arnaiz, Negros Oriental; Susan Yap, Tarlac; Victor Yu, Zamboanga Sur; Lou Antonino, South Cotabato; Aries Aumentado, Bohol; Chedeng Alvarez, Negros Occidental; and Bing Leonardia, Bacolod.

Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, an LP member who is being encouraged to run as Roxas’ vice president, was also present.

“He (Roxas) is working on consolidating the administration coalition. He presented his platform of government but there were no commitments yet,” said Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga, adding that the aspirant did not dangle or offer anything in exchange for political support.

Enverga, also an NPC spokesman, noted that “we are in belief that we must not only know a presidential candidate’s personality but more importantly their agenda for development and compare this with our party principles,” he said.

The NPC, he added, would also have meetings with other presidential aspirants even when it is in coalition with the Liberal Party (LP).

He qualified that the alliance pertains only to the support for the Aquino administration’s policies.

“Politics is another matter,” Enverga said.

Since his endorsement, Roxas has been meeting with allies. His mother, Judy Araneta Roxas, is expected to host a luncheon for members of the Congressional Spouses Foundation at a family-owned mall in Quezon City.

His wife, TV show host Korina Sanchez, also met LP stalwarts in Maguindanao and asked for support for “Mar’s vision of peace and sustainable development in Mindanao.” At least 34 of the province’s 36 mayors belong to the LP. The mayors in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which include the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, also belong to LP.

There are persistent talks that the coalition might break up over the choice of who to support in the 2016 presidential elections. The other members of the administration coalition include the National Unity Party, the Nacionalista Party and other party-list groups.

Some factions in the coalition, including those from the NPC, have been siding with Poe, who is topping the presidential surveys but has not made known her political plans for next year.

Deputy Speaker and Isabela Rep. Giorgiddi Aggabao, NPC president, said LP called for the breakfast meeting and that the party thought it important to hear Roxas out.

“I thought it is important for NPC to go not only to listen to Secretary Mar but prevent or repair a rift between the parties that, I would stress, is only about the elections, and not the larger commitment of NPC to continue supporting the President and his programs,” Aggabao said.

Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, also an NPC spokesman, said all party members were asked to make their own assessments and make known their preferences on whom to support in the elections.

NPC leaders and members from Luzon were expected to meet last night at their clubhouse in New Manila, Quezon City. Sources said Poe and Sen. Francis Escudero were invited to the meeting.

More LP members

Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II, an LP stalwart, said the party would not split but rather gain more members as the presidential election approaches.

Gonzales said many local officials or candidates would most likely gravitate to the LP “because of the perception that during elections, you have to be with the party in power.”

Meanwhile, Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice denied rumors that he was the one behind the filing of suits against Poe questioning her citizenship.

Erice said as early as last year, he was pushing for a Roxas-Poe tandem.

 “The ones behind that suit are the ones who want to create a split or are against the tandem of Roxas-Poe,” Erice said. – With Aurea Calica, John Unson, Danny Dangcalan, Cecille Suerte Felipe