Cojuangco asked scholars to support NPC bets

VICE Governor Genaro Alvarez confirmed Wednesday that former Ambassador Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr., chairman emeritus of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), has asked his scholars to support his bets in Negros Occidental for the May 13 elections.

The letter of Cojuangco to his scholars was circulated at the Capitol on Wednesday. Attached to the letter was the list of NPC bets for the May 13 elections from the top posts in the province down to city and municipal mayoralty bets of the party.

"I'm happy and thankful for the all-out support of Ambassador Cojuangco. I'm so honored to be endorsed by him," Alvarez said when asked for his reaction and confirmation of the said letter of Cojuangco bearing only the name Danding with his signature affixed to it.

In his letter dated December 20, 2012, Cojuangco told the scholars, "Let us collectively and strongly give our support to our public servants whose stated platform of governance best addresses the concerns of our constituents and the challenges of the times."

Alvarez said that Cojuangco's scholars number about 1,500 professionals, including teachers and policemen who are taking up their master’s degree or post graduate studies under a full scholarship program sponsored by Cojuangco.

According to Alvarez, Cojuangco's letter was merely an endorsement for their candidacies and that the scholars, professionals as they are, will still have the free will whom to vote during the elections.

He said the decision of whom they will vote would still depend on those professionals.

Alvarez also lamented that he also provided scholarships to children of some people but unfortunately, despite those scholarship assistance, he is still being subjected to radio attacks by the kin of some of those scholars. He refused to mention any name.