Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) – Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II invited 12 lawmakers from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) to the LP headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City on Tuesday, August 11.
The agenda: He wanted to present to them his plans as a presidential candidate and asked for NPC’s support in 2016.
He made his pitch in front of some LP members, including Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, who along with Sen. Grace Poe, is reportedly being considered as a possible running mate of Roxas.
Batangas Rep. Mark Mendoza, who is NPC secretary-general, said his party had not committed anything to Roxas. But whatever was discussed would be cascaded to NPC members.
“Naghingi ng tulong sa amin si Secretary Mar na suportahan siya. Pinarating naman naming na kokosultahin namin yung mga member namin pero yung mga gusto sumama sa kanya ay free naman,” Mendoza said.
[Translation: “Secretary Mar asked for our help and support. We told him that we will consult our members, and those who would like to join him are free to do so.”]
For its, part the Liberal Party said the meeting with local officials was only the first of many.
“We’ll be reaching out not only to the NPC but to all other parties in a coalition party such as Nacionalista Party, the NUP [National Unity Party],” Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, LP political and electoral affairs chairman, said.
Erice also said that they would also continue to court Poe to be Roxas’s running mate.
NPC divided between Mar Roxas and Grace Poe
NPC officials earlier said they would likely back Poe in 2016, if she would decide to run.
But apparently, this doesn’t mean that all members will back her up if the party ends up endorsing her.
Sen. Francis Escudero, who could be Poe’s vice presidential running mate, is an NPC member. But some of Escudero’s colleagues in the NPC said that they would bat for Roxas in their ongoing party consultations.
South Cotabato Rep. Pedro Acharon said that this scenario was not new.
“Nangyari na ‘yan noon. Pinagbigyan kami ng partido kung talagang mayroong personal na preference at hindi naman makaksira sa partido,” Acharon said.
[Translation: “It happened before. The party gave us leeway if we really have our personal preference as long as it does not adversely affect the party.”]
Mendoza said the party would continue to respect the preference of their members.
“Kahit mayroong order ang party na ito ang susuportahan natin, pero kung ikaw mismo ay personal gusto mo may iba kang preference, OK lang sa amin yun. Nirerespeto ng partido yun,” Mendoza said.
[Translation: “Even if the party has given orders that we will support a particular candidate, but if you have a different personal preference, it’s okay. The party will respect that.”]
Whether it be Roxas, Poe,, or Vice President Jejomar Binay, NPC members said all three have good friends in the party who would likely support them.
Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian of the NPC is a Binay ally and is also said to be part of UNA’s senatorial ticket.
Despite their leanings, they said they were still willing and planning to meet with other possible presidential bets to hear what they had to say.
NPC leaders: ‘The decision is ours’
Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, NPC spokesman, said no decision was made in this meeting with Roxas.
Gatchalian emphasized that this was just “part and parcel of the party’s consultation process”.
He also added that the party was still formulating its decision for next year and members were encouraged to listen to all declared candidates.
According to Gatchalian: “This will help members and later on the party come up with a sound party decision.”
NPC members said that their leadership knew about their meeting with Roxas.
“Sila nagsabi na you go to the headquarters of LP dahil kakausapin kayo ni Secretary Mar, [They told me to go to the headquarters of LP because Secretary Mar would like to speak with you],” Davao del Sur Gov. Claude Bautista told the media.
Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga, spokesperson for the NPC House contingent, said that talks with Roxas were part of the party’s consultative effort “to get to know Secretary Mar and his platform of governance.”
Enverga added that the NPC could assure candidates that it would do the same for other presidential aspirants.
Isabela Rep. Georgidi Aggabao, NPC president, said Roxas “will make his point,” and his message “will be clearly received.”
But Aggabao’s message is also clear: He pointed out that the decision “would be NPC’s to make.”
NPC was founded by Ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr.
President Benigno Aquino III is a nephew of Cojuangco, who however supported another nephew, Gilberto Teodoro, in the 2010 presidential elections.
