NPC sets sights on congressional seats
URDANETA CITY—The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) is focusing its efforts on winning local positions, particularly congressional seats, in the coming national and local election in May.
Fifth district Rep. Mark Cojuangco, NPC’s fifth district chairman, said the party will field a good number of NPC candidates at the municipal level and the party continues to welcome those who would like to join them.
Cojuangco, whose father, former Ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, is NPC’s chairman emeritus, might run unopposed for his third term.
Aside from him, other NPC candidates are re-electionist sixth district Rep. Conrado Estrella III. At presstime, there seems to be no one ready to challenge Estrella in his turf.
Cojuangco said the third congressional race is still up for grabs. Bayambang Mayor Leocadio de Vera Jr. and retired Police Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco are reportedly joining NPC. Both are eyeing the third congressional seat.
In the second district, NPC will also present its candidate. Incumbent congressman Amado Espino Jr. of the second district is seeking the gubernatorial post, thus his position promises to be a “free-for-all” fight.
In the fourth district, Cojuangco said the party will still throw its support behind House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. since they have a coalition with the administration’s Lakas party.
The first district remains undecided, he said.
Meanwhile, he confirmed that some senatorial aspirants have already expressed a desire to join their party but they have yet to finalize their strategy for the national level.
Cojuangco said the interest of senatorial wannabes to run under their banner is an indication of the “attractiveness” of their party.
The NPC has been supportive of the government, but Cojuangco underscored that “we also have our philosophy on how the candidates should be developed”.
He added that the NPC also has its own philosophy and idealism on how the government should be run. –EVA
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