By Sammy F. Martin
MANILA, August 11 (PNA) — Interior and Local Government Sec. Mar Roxas on Tuesday met wth the perceived supporters of Sen. Grace Poe from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) to woo their support for next year’s polls, including the congressman who hit the initiative of his mother, Judy Araneta-Roxas’ to help his candidacy.
While he was not able to make it, Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian, a declared senatorial candidate and a stalwart of NPC, welcomed the meeting called by Roxas, the administration standard bearer for them to know the latter’s platform of governance as part of consultative process for next year’s elections.
“Tama iyun (meeting). NPC is now in the process of getting to know everyone who is running for the top post. So pakinggan natin silang lahat,” said Gatchalian in an interview.
Earlier, Deputy Speaker and Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, NPC President, declared that majority of NPC members will back the possible presidential bid of Poe and her potential running mate, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
Surprisingly, even Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza, the House bloc head of NPC at the House of Representatives, was among the 14 House members who attended the meeting in the Liberal Party (LP) Headquarters at the Balay Cubao Expo on Tuesday called by Roxas.
In yesterday’s meeting, Mendoza disclosed that Roxas asked for their political backing.
“Humingi ng tulong sa amin si Secretary Mar na suportahan siya. At kung sinoman ang gustong suportahan siya ay free naman,” Mendoza said.
“At the end of the day kasi, ang NPC naman, kung ano man ang mapagkasunduan ng partido, ‘yun ang masusunod,” Mendoza clarified.
Aside from Mendoza, other NPC members who joined the meeting with Roxas include Masbate Rep. Scott Lanete, Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Victor Yu, Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga, Tarlac Rep. Susan Yap, South Cotabato Rep. Pedro Acharon Jr., Negros Oriental Rep. Jorge Arnaiz, Bohol Rep. Aristotle Aumentado, Bacolod City Rep. Evilio Leonardia, Negros Oriental Rep. Henry Pryde Teves, Negros Occidental Rep. Mercedes “Chedeng” Alvarez, Rizal Rep. Isidro Rodriguez Jr. and former South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio.
The meeting was attended also by some LP stalwarts like Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice, Quezon City Rep. Christopher “Kit” Belmonte,Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Sato, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, one of the potential running mates of Roxas, and Sen. Ralph Recto.
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. (PNA)