Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The 2016 elections seems to be splitting the Nacionalista Party (NP) as several of its members are seeking the same post next year.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano has recently declared that he is running for vice president.
Months before Cayetano did, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV already announced his intention to run for the same position.
“Tuloy tuloy. I will still run for vice president,” Trillanes said. “Sa ngayon independent tayo although I’m still a member of Nacionalista Party.”
According to Trillanes, he will make his formal declaration soon.
Meanwhile, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is also reported to be eyeing the same post under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
“We will see. We had not anticipated that there would be three candidates from the same party,” Marcos told the media.
The NP said it will likely be a free zone or “zona libre” because of the three senators’ plans for higher office.
NP stalwart Sen. Cynthia Villar said it will be a tight race, and she sees no problem if many of their members jump ship.
Her husband, NP president Manny Villar, said the party will endorse all three senators but will not raise the hand of any of them during the campaign.
