NPC to remain in coalition with LP

MANILA -- The Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) said Wednesday that it will remain in coalition with the ruling Liberal Party (LP), saying the two parties have "intensified" talks for next years elections.

The NPC refuted a statement of its member, Senator Vicente Sotto III, that it is considering flying solo in the 2013 midterm elections.

Sotto was quoted in a newspaper report that the NPC might bolt its coalition with LP if the equity of the incumbent is not followed in the choice of candidates for the 2013 polls in the local levels.

"We want to stress that the NPC is steadfast in its coalition with the LP for the upcoming 2013 midterm elections. In fact, talks are ongoing and we are already in the process of threshing out the finer details of the framework of our alliance," , NPC spokesperson and Valenzuela City Representative Rex Gatchalian said in a statement.

The lawmaker said that Sotto might just have been taken out of context or was fed the wrong information when he issued the statement about the NPC's next move in the event that problems occur relative to the equity of the incumbent issue.

The NPC spokesperson assured all of their party members that the leadership is working hard to protect their interests including hammering out an acceptable solution.

Gatchalian further stressed that the NPC supports the leadership of President Benigno Aquino III, chairman of LP.

"We believe that through this coalition the NPC could be an effective partner of President Aquino and his administration in bringing progress, stability and peace to the country," he said.

Besides the NPC, LP is also in coalition with the Nacionalista Party of Senator Manny Villar.

In the national level, the NPC is fielding reelectionist Senator Loren Legarda and Cagayan Representative Jack Enrile, son of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

The younger Enrile will run under the United Nationalist Alliance of Vice President Jejomar Binay and former President Joseph Estrada while Legarda is yet to decide which of the two, UNA and LP, she will be joining. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)