BUSINESSMAN Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr. and cousin Jose "Peping" Cojuangco are in talks possibly to work out mutual support for the 2010 presidential bid of their nephew, Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III of the Liberal Party.A member of Danding’s Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), who is privy to the ongoing talks, yesterday said the cousins have momentarily set aside their political enmity for Noynoy’s sake.
"There is an ongoing negotiation between the Cojuangco cousins and this could result in reaching a common ground – supporting Noynoy," said the NPC member who requested anonymity.
Danding and Peping are first-degree cousins, their fathers being brothers. They have a long history of political rivalry in Tarlac, especially during the Marcos era when Peping was at the side of brother-in-law then Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr., an arch-enemy of Marcos and father of Noynoy.
Noynoy will face cousin Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. in the May 2010 polls. Teodoro is set to be endorsed as standard bearer of the ruling Lakas-Kampi coalition in a formal nominating event next month. Teodoro is the son of Danding’s sister Merceditas Cojuangco-Teodoro.
The NPC source said Danding prefers Noynoy (over Gibo with whom Danding reportedly has personal differences, and Sen. Chiz Escudero, the likely NPC standard bearer) but is "wary of the politicians surrounding around Noynoy."
The source referred to the likes of former senator Franklin Drilon, former Batanes congressman Florencio "Butch" Abad, and members of civil society.
Escudero has so far not made good a promise to declare his candidacy under the NPC, which Danding founded in l992.
Source: http://www.malaya.com.ph/oct22/news5.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment