MANILA — Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero have hinted at running for president and vice president, respectively, in next year’s polls during Tuesday’s night fellowship of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) after discussing different concerns of its members for inclusion to their “platform of government,” a party stalwart disclosed Wednesday.
While they did not declare running to higher position,Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza, the House bloc head of NPC at the House of Representatives, said Poe and Escudero had consulted the members about problems in their respective provinces.
“Pero tinatanong nila ang members kung ano ang different concerns na kailangang i-address at isama sa plataporma nila sa 2016,” Mendoza admitted without giving details to the concerns raised in the fellowship Tuesday night.
Mendoza said they were still in consultative stage, clarifying that Poe and Escudero joined the fellowship to meet and greet at least 30 NPC members who attended the event.
Deputy Speaker and Isabela Rep. Giorgidi “Gigi” Aggabao, the NPC president confirmed that Poe discussed the concerns of NPC members whom he identified as “governors.”
“There was no talk of politics although Sen. Grace did discuss some problems with governors besetting their provinces,” said Aggabao.
“It was purely socials, a gathering for the party members to meet in person Sen. Grace and Chiz,” the NPC president added.
Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian, a declared senatorial candidate and NPC stalwart, said the event Tuesday night was a good opportunity to meet Poe and Escudero.
“Maganda naman po ang nangyari kagabi. Marami sa NPC ay hindi pa nakilala at nakausap ng personal sina Sen. Grace and Sen. Chiz. It was a good time to get to know each other,” said Gatchalian.
The NPC is the second largest political party in the country with two senators, 47 members in the House of Representatives, 14 governors, and 22 city mayors.
The NPC stalwarts who attended the fellowship were Aggabao, Mendoza, Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga, Isabela Rep. Napoleon Dy, Sorsogon Rep. Evelina Escudero, as well as former Rizal Rep. Jack Duavit, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe, Alliance of Volunteer Educators (AVE) party-list Rep. Amang Magsaysay, and Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano, among others.
On Tuesday morning also, Interior Sec. Mar Roxas met 14 NPC members to woo their support for next year’s polls in the Liberal Party Headquarters at the Balay Cubao Expo.