MANILA, Philippines - The Liberal Party (LP) is unfazed by the reported defection of some members to the Nationalist Party Coalition (NPC) to purportedly support the presidential bid of Sen. Grace Poe and her runningmate Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero, an official said Saturday.
LP president and Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya said that the members who have reportedly jumped ship to the NPC, the second largest political party in the country, "shouldn't affect LP."
"The continuation of the 'Daang Matuwid' (straight path) is much larger than any individual," Abaya said in a text message.
LP standard bearer Mar Roxas had been wooing Poe to be his runningmate but to no avail as she announced her intention to pursue the presidency in 2016.
Meanwhile, Abaya said that LP leadership has no way of knowing who among its members have gone to the NPC.
"If we see a list then we can check with our roster and conduct the appropriate action," he said.
On Friday, over 150 local officials and lawmakers from the LP and other parties have defected to the NPC.
NPC secretary general Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza said the 'mass defection' to NPC was triggered by the recent formalization of the Poe-Escudero tandem.
"We were surprised because right after Sen. Grace and Sen. Chiz made their announcement, many wanted to join the NPC," Mendoza told reporters at the mass oath-taking in New Manila, Quezon City.
NPC has yet to officially announce who the party would endorse in the 2016 elections.