Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — A day after meeting with Vice President Jejomar Binay, it was Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Mar Roxas’ turn.
The meeting with Roxas on Tuesday evening (September 8) lasted three hours — the longest since the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) started meeting with possible presidential contenders.
Roxas refused to answer when asked if he felt that he was successful in convincing NPC that he should be their bet.
But he seemed happy.
“I’m smiling. I remain unscathed,” Roxas told the media after the meeting.
According to Roxas, there was an intensive discussion about his platforms of government.
“Nagkaroon kami ng malawakan pag-uusap tungkol sa plataporma at kung saan natin nais dalhin ang bansa at natutuwa naman ako sa kaganapan nitong gabing ito,” Roxas added.
[Translation: “We had a thorough discussion on platforms and where I intend to bring the country, and I am happy for what transpired tonight.”]
Quezon Congressman and NPC spokesman Mark Enverga admitted to media that the members were impressed.
“Natuwa kami, naimpress kami sa kanyang mga kaalaman. Partikular sa mga isssues na tinanong ng bawat miyembro,” Enverga told reporters.
[Translation: “We were happy and impressed with what he knows, particularly on the issues that were asked by each member.”]
More than 30 NPC members attended the closed door meeting, including NPC secretary general and Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro “Dong” Mendoza and Sen.Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
NPC Pangasinan chairman and former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco, who openly said that he would support Binay, was also there. Though he insisted that he would stick with Binay, he only had good words to say about Roxas.
“Tonight was an eye opener for me… He’s very in touch with the numbers, so he did well tonight,” Cojuangco said.
The party met with three possible candidates – Binay, Roxas and Sen. Grace Poe.
While it’s been said that majority of NPC members are inclined to support a possible tandem of Poe and Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Enverga said the decision won’t be that easy.
“After having met these presidentiables, I can also say that the members are being swayed on a day to day basis,” Enverga said.
Amid this divide, the party is keen on coming up with a unified stand.
Cojuangco said a unified position after all would give them more relevance as party.
