MANILA, Philippines – The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) is set to formally forge an alliance with the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), the political party of president-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

In an advisory sent to media, NPC – the country’s second largest political party – said it will sign an “Agreement of Support” with the “administration of incoming President Rodrigo Duterte and Congressman Pantaleon Alvarez” on Friday, May 20.

NPC member and senator-elect Sherwin Gatchalian told Rappler that the agreement is to represent the “coalition between NPC and PDP-Laban” in the House of Representatives.

This alliance would ensure the backing of NPC lawmakers for Alvarez, who has been endorsed by PDP-Laban as next House Speaker. 

Newly-elected Davao del Norte Representative Alvarez needs to secure the votes of more than 150 lawmakers.

’80 jumping ship’

Alvarez earlier said in a lunch gathering on Wednesday, May 18, that lawmakers from several parties and party lists partnering with PDP-Laban would make him win the speakership.

He also said that PDP-Laban is forming a coalition with 3 other parties – the NPC, Nacionalista Party (NP), and National Unity Party (NUP).

“When the 3 big parties coalesce, including party lists, [the number of lawmakers on our side] will be more than enough,” Alvarez said in Filipino.

He also claimed that “no less than 80” lawmakers from different political parties will shift to PDP-Laban.

Meanwhile, Lakas-CMD president Martin Romualdez already signed documents during Wednesday’s gathering to formalize his party’s coalition with PDP-Laban. – Rappler.com