Lawmaker debunks LP, NPC break-up

REPRESENTATIVE Albee Benitez (3rd District, Negros Occidental), provincial chair of the Liberal Party (LP), clarified Thursday that there was no political break-up in the coalition of the administration’s Liberal Party and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

Benitez made the clarification after former Pangasinan congressman Mark Cojuangco, son of NPC founder and chairman emeritus Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr., issued a statement that NPC no longer honors the coalition or covenant with the LP.

Cojuangco in a press conference in Manila said the NPC decided to go on its own in the May elections because of “irreconcilable differences” with the ruling Liberal Party.

Benitez said the issue was already clarified by the hierarchy of the NPC and that the statement of the younger Cojuangco was more of his personal views.

Benitez said the statement made by Cojuangco was a result of some conflicts between local candidates of the NPC and LP but it does not affect the national coalition, and the support for the senatorial candidates of Team PNoy.

Benitez said that NPC spokesman Rex Gatchalian had already issued a statement denying the breakup of the coalition.

He cited the case of Bacolod and Negros Occidental where the break-up of the coalition between NPC, LP and NP is a non-issue, pointing out that the coalition remained intact despite several conflicts in the local level.

Benitez said LP and NPC are two big parties and it is expected that each will have candidates vying for the same position, and it can never be avoided or controlled.

If such scenarios happen, the coalition will declare a free zone to prevent break up and further conflict, Benitez said.