President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II during the 114th Police Service Anniversary at the PNP Multi-Purpose Center, Camp Crame in Quezon City on Friday, August 7 with the theme: “Pambansang Pulisya: Patuloy sa Makabuluhang Paglilingkod at Makatarungang Pagpapatupad ng Batas.”
MANILA (Mabuhay) — Is the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) torn between Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and neophyte Senator Grace Poe?
NPC congressmen on Tuesday showed up at Roxas’ headquarters to show support for the Liberal Party’s (LP) standard-bearer.
The NPC congressemen include Negros Oriental Rep. Pryde Teves, Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga, Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza, Bohol Rep. Erico Aumentado, Tarlac Rep. Susan Yap, Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia, South Cotabato Rep. Pedro Acharon, Negros Occidental Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, Cebu Rep. Gerald Gullas, Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Victor Yu, Negros Oriental Rep. George Arnaiz, Rizal Rep. Isidro Rodriguez and Masbate Rep. Scott Lañete.
Also present in the meeting were General Santos Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Lou Antonino.
The meeting was held following pronouncements from NPC President, Deputy Speaker Giorgidi Aggabao, that the party is inclined to back the tandem of Poe and Francis Escudero should they eventually decide to run in 2016.
NPC spokesman, Rex Gatchalian, however, said the party has yet to decide on the matter.
“The NPC as a party has not decided whom it will support in the next elections. Members are free to express their opinions on who they prefer. They are free to explore options and listen to the different declared candidates,” he said.
President Benigno Aquino III earlier declared Roxas as his anointed one. This, after he supposedly failed to convince Poe to be Roxas’ running mate, in an effort to keep the administration coalition intact.
Roxas has been meeting with allies since the president’s endorsement.
Last week, he met with allies from local government units at a San Juan restaurant. Tomorrow, his mother Judy Araneta Roxas will host a lunch for the Congressional Spouses Foundation at a family-owned mall in Quezon City.(MNS)