NPC staying neutral on Noynoy, Gibo

By Eva Visperas
The Philippine Star
Updated January 15, 2010
12:00 AM




Original Story: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=540907&publicationSubCategoryId=63


ROSALES, Pangasinan , Philippines – Torn between two cousins who are eyeing the presidency, Pangasinan fifth district Rep. Mark Cojuangco, son of Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) founder and chairman emeritus Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, said the party would not support either one but would just stay neutral.

“They are both my cousins, we are neutral in this contest,” Cojuangco said, referring to his cousins Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, standard-bearer of the Liberal Party, and former Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro who is the administration party’s presidential bet.

He said the party stands firm in its earlier decision not to support any presidential candidate
in the May 2010 polls.

“We already supported our presidential contender, he backed out. So as far as we are concerned we’ve already done our duty to the country,” he said.

NPC had thrown its support behind Sen. Francis Escudero as its standard-bearer but he did not push through with his presidential ambition.

“Unfortunately our political fortunes were not with us for this election,” Cojuangco added.

However, he said his party is pinning its hopes on “a very viable vice presidential candidate in the person of Sen. Loren Legarda.”

“We are supporting her 100 percent,” he said.

Cojuangco also disclosed that the NPC has close to 80 congressional bets in 2010 in the entire country and there are about 32 incumbent congressmen, which number they hope to increase.


Original Story: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=540907&publicationSubCategoryId=63