Stalwarts of Cojuangco party throw support behind Binay

MANILA, Philippines – Is it an omen of things to come? At least two stalwarts of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) – administration ally and founded by an uncle of President Aquino – have come forward to categorically endorse Vice President Jejomar Binay for the 2016 presidential polls.

Valenzuela City Representative Sherwin Gatchalian announced in a radio interview in Isabela over the weekend his plan to join the Vice President’s senatorial ticket in 2016. He accompanied Binay in his visit to northern Luzon provinces following typhoons Luis (Kalmaegi) and Mario (Fung-Wong).

“This 2016 po, hangad nating tumakbo bilang senador po at nakalinya po tayo kay VP sa darating pong halalan,” Gatchalian told Bombo Radyo Cauayan on Sunday, September 21. (This 2016, I plan to run for the Senate. I am set to join the lineup of the Vice President.)

Isabela Governor Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, brother of NPC chairman Faustino Dy Jr, also guaranteed his support for Binay, whose mother hails from Isabela. 

READ: One step ahead: VP Binay lays out 2016 campaign message

“Siguro hindi naman na pag-uusapan ang pagsusuporta kay Vice President sapagkat unang-una, hindi lamang komo’t taga-Isabela si Vice President, sapagkat nakikita naman natin ‘yun. Ang importante kasi, ang kailangan ng ating bansa ay ‘yung lider na maaasahan, ‘yung lider na nandiyan sa oras ng damayan, nakikita natin. At, merong vision para sa ating mga mamamayan. Ito na rin ang pagkakataon ng ating lalawigan na magkaroon ng isang pangulo ng republika,“ Dy told Bombo Radyo.

(I think we do not need to discuss our support for the Vice President. First, it’s not only because the Vice President comes from Isabela. The more important thing is, this country needs a leader we can count on, a leader who is always there for us, and someone who has a vision for the people. This is also the chance of our province to have one of us become President of the Republic.)

Isabela is one of the bailiwicks of NPC. NPC president Representative Giorgidi Aggabao is also from Isabela. The party was formed in 1992 by businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr, a cousin of the late President Corazon Aquino, mother of the incumbent president. Cojuangco still chairs the party.

The NPC belongs to the Liberal Party-led majority coalition in the House of Representatives. The country’s 3rd biggest political party, based on Commission on Elections data in 2013, has been a reliable ally that helped the Aquino administration pass a number of priority measures. 

Sought for comment, NPC spokesperson Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian maintains that political party has not formally discussed the 2016 polls and his brother and Governor Dy were only expressing their “individual preferences.”

“The NPC leadership believes it is premature and too early to talk politics. Our individual members have mandates to fulfill. Members are free to signify their individual preferences but this does not preclude the party coming together later on when the time is right and come up with a common party decision,” said Mayor Gatchalian.

The actions of Representative Gatchalian and Governor Dy, however, are uncharacteristic of the NPC members, who have always been known for staying quiet until the party has made a decision.

NPC’s disappointment over the way the Liberal Party (LP) handled the 2013 midterm elections is no secret either. NPC and the President’s LP have kept their marriage of convenience, but some NPC stalwarts have declared that it will only last until the end of the President’s term. (Read and watch: ‘Pangasinan NPC is 100% behind PNoy, but not LP’)

The senators leading the probe against Binay are members of Nacionalista Party (NP), also a member of the administration’s rainbow coalition. 

In the same radio interview in Isabela, the NPC stalwarts helped Binay defend himself against the plunder complaint and the Senate probe into the alleged overpricing of a Makati city government building when Binay was still mayor.

Binay dismissed the allegations as recycled lies meant to bring his ratings down. He laughed off questions about the Senate request for him to attend the probe.

“Haharap ka na may desisyon na, prejudged na. Haharap ka eh…pinalalabas na may kasalanan ka. Eh magsasalita lang ako na parang abugado, ha? Alam mo ‘yung nangyayari du’n hindi naman ebidensya ‘yun. Talagang paninira lang,” said Binay. 

(You expect me to attend a hearing where they’ve already made a decision, they’ve already prejudged the case? You expect me to face them when they’ve already made it appear I indeed committed something? I’ll just sound like a defense lawyer. What’s happening there is, they are not after getting any evidence, they just want to destroy your reputation.) – Rappler.com