Duterte, Villar forge PDP-Laban, Nacionalista coalition for new admin

DAVAO CITY - The leaders of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas Ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and the Nacionalista Party on Monday afternoon announced a new partnership for the incoming administration of Rodrigo Duterte.

PDP-Laban was represented by Duterte, its chairman, and Senator Koko Pimentel, the party president. The NP was represented by former Senator Manny Villar and his wife, incumbent Senator Cynthia Villar.

The signing of the "coalition for change agreement" was done after Duterte's first press conference as after the May 9 elections.

"Meaning to say, the Nacionalista Party wants to help President Rodrigo Duterte and his party PDP-Laban in fleshing out the program of government for change of President Duterte," Pimentel told reporters Monday night.

He added that the agreement does not mean that members of Nacionalista will transfer to PDP-Laban.

Manny Villar, in a brief interview, said that the agreement is to show support for Duterte and his administration.

Duterte's running mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, an NP member, said that it is up to the individual members of the party, including Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Senator Bongbong Marcos, to react to the agreement with PDP-Laban.

"We are talking of the party and not the individual members," he said.

The NP did not endorse any candidate during the elections. —JST, GMA News