PHILIPPINE NEWS SERVICE — NO less than the son of the founder of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) is convinced that Sen. Francis Joseph Escudero could be the party’s choice for its presidential bet in the 2010 elections.
That is, according to Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco, son of former businessman and NPC chairman emeritus Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr., if the current surveys of winnable presidential candidates will be the basis of the party’s choice for standard bearer in next year’s polls.
The party has two potential presidential candidates in Escudero and Sen. Loren Legarda-Leviste who, Rep. Cojuangco noted, is trailing Escudero in recent surveys, including that released by Pulse Asia recently.
The poll showed that Escudero, a former three-term congressman, got a 12-percent approval rating compared to Legarda-Leviste’s six percent.
“Well, the two agreed that they will settle between them who our standard bearer will be,” Cojuangco said.
“And they have until November to decide. And based on the results of the latest surveys, Escudero leads 2:1,” he said.
Escudero also ranked third in the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Station (SWS) with an 18-percent approval rating while Legarda-Leviste placed sixth with a rating of six percent.
In another poll conducted by The Center, Escudero tied with ousted President Joseph Estrada, convicted of, but later pardoned for plunder, for second place with identical 16-percent rating.
Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. led the three surveys.
Cojuangco said “it is certain” that NPC will field a presidential bet in 2010.