Spokespersons for the Liberal Party and the Nationalist People’s Coalition on Wednesday denied any rift in their coalition, following a newspaper report saying that the NPC cannot assure its support to all senatorial bets of the administration coalition.
Valenzuela Rep. Rex Gatchalian, NPC spokesperson, said his party is not dissolving its partnership agreement with the LP.
“The party is steadfast in working towards the electoral success of the coalition candidates. The NPC will continue to support the President and his reform agenda till his last day in office,” Gatchalian said in a text message.
He added that none of the party’s officials have made a statement that the NPC will not endorse all of the ruling party’s senatorial candidates for the 2013 polls.
“Only two NPC senatorial bets, three including Chiz (Senator Francis Escudero), have a guarantee of our support,” the Manila Bulletin report quoted Cojuangco as saying.
But the NPC has only one candidate in the administration coalition, re-electionist Senator Loren Legarda. Another re-electionist, Senator Francis Escudero, was formerly aligned with the NPC, but decided to bolt the party in 2009.
As of posting time, GMA News Online was still trying to reach Cojuangco.
For his part, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, LP campaign spokesperson, also belied claims that the NPC will only support selected administration candidates.
“The report that the NPC has bolted Team PNoy is untrue. It is part of the tsunami of intrigues to break the formidable force of the coalition,” Evardone said in a separate text message. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News
