Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) – On the invitation of Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, 12 lawmakers from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) flocked to Balay, the Liberal Party’s (LP) main headquarters, in Cubao, Quezon City, on Tuesday morning (August 11).
Roxas’s agenda was clear: He would present his plans and ask for their support in 2016.
He made his pitch before the NPC lawmakers, along with a few LP members, including Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo who, apart from Sen. Grace Poe, is also a possible running mate for Roxas.
Batangas Rep. Mark Mendoza said:”Nanghingi ng tulong sa amin si Secretary Mar na suportahan siya. Pinarating naman namin na kokonsultahin namin yung mga member namin. Pero yung mga gusto sumama sa kanya ay free naman.”
[Translation: “Secretary Mar asked for our support. And we told him we would consult our members. But anyway, those who would want to join him are free to do so.”]
Before the Tuesday meeting, NPC officials said they would likely back Poe, if she would decide to run in 2016.
But apparently, not all members would back her even if she could get the party endorsement.
General Santos City Rep. Pedro Acharon, for one, said he would bat for Roxas, not Poe.
“Nangyarian naman noon, pinagbigyan kami ng partido kung talagang mayroong personal na preference at hindi naman makakasira sa partido Nangyayari yan noon sa amin,” Acharon said.
[Translation: “That has happened before. The party would let us have our personal preference if it would not damage the party. That has happened to us before.”]
Mendoza, who is NPC secretary-general, explained: “Hindi naman naming maiiwasan yun eh. 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. Nire-respeto ng partido yun.”
“We can’t avoid that. Even if the party orders us to support someone in particular, if you have a preference for another candidate, that’s okay with us. The party respects that.”]
The legislators said NPC leaders knew about their meeting with Roxas.
Davao del Sur Gov. Claude Bautista said: “Sila nagsabi na: ‘You go to the headquarters of LP dahil kakausapin kayo ni Secretary Mar’.”
[Translation: “They were the ones who said: ‘You go to the headquarters of LP because Secretary Mar will talk to you’.”
One even said he was asked by no less than Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr., NPC founder and uncle of President Benigno Aquino III, to attend.
The lawmakers said Roxas, Poe, and Vice President Jejomar Binay all have good friends in NPC who might support their political plans.
Sen. Chiz Escudero, who may be Poe’s vice presidential running mate, is a former NPC member.
Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian may be on the senatorial ticket of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
Despite their leanings, most were willing to talk to other presidential bets and hear their plans — and offers.
For its part, the LP said this meeting was only the first of many.
Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said: “We’ll be reaching out not only to the NPC but to all other parties in coalition party such as Nacionalista Party, the NUP [National Unity Party].”
He said the party would continue to convince Poe to be Roxas’s running mate.
