A tale of two parties: The LP and the NPC

Leaders of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), the second biggest political party next to the ruling Liberal Party (LP), are confident of its "lock and load, ready to go" machinery for the 2016 presidential elections.

 

But while the NPC has a strong political machinery, it has yet to present or endorse a presidential candidate who will benefit from it. 

 

On Tuesday night, at least 30 NPC members in Luzon met with Senators Grace Poe and Francis "Chiz" Escudero at the political party's clubhouse in New Manila, Quezon City. Invitations were extended to both senators for the "fellowship and consultation" meeting among NPC members. 

 

The gathering took place hours after 12 NPC congressmen met with Interior Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas, LP's presumptive standard bearer, in the ruling party's Balay headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City. Some NPC congressmen were in attendance in both meetings. 

 

NPC national spokesperson Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, and executive vice president Jack Duavit both cited the party's strong machinery and presence in the local level as the factors that would propel its endorsed candidate to win in next year's elections. 

 

According to Gatchalian, the NPC's membership includes two senators, 44 congressmen, 14 governors, 22 city mayors, and 217 municipal mayors.

 

The NPC was formed in 1990. Two years later, it fielded its only presidential candidate so far, in the person of former Ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco. Cojuangco, chairman emeritus of NPC, is President Benigno Aquino III's uncle. 

Cojuangco placed third next to Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and the eventual winner, former President Fidel Ramos. 

 

Asked what the edge of NPC is against LP, whose members compose of four senators, 118 congressmen, 37 governors and vice governors, 62 city mayors, and 651 municipal mayors, Gatchalian said: "Our 101 percent effort to work towards victory." 
 

Escudero, a long-time member of the NPC until he left in 2009, recognizes what his former party can do for the possible presidential candidacy of Senator Poe. 

 

"Wala naman siyang pera, partido o makinarya so malaking bagay ito kung saka-sakaling magpapasya siya," he said. 

 

Majority of NPC members also supported the 2004 presidential candidacy of Senator Poe's father, movie icon Fernando Poe, Jr. 

 

Victory not dependent on machinery
 

Senator Sergio Osmena III, President Aquino's campaign manager in 2010, said political machinery does not guarantee a presidential bet's victory.

 

"In practice, it affects only local candidates. Hardly affects national candidates...There are so many factors (to consider); charisma, competence, character, perception, message," he said in a text message. 

 

Political analyst Ramon Casiple said presidential candidates also have to work on their image, pointing out that it was the factor which won Aquino the presidency in 2010. Aquino's campaign slogan then was "kung walang korap, walang mahirap." 

 

"Machinery does not win elections. It's not a decisive factor...Malaking factor din ang image, iyong pagkilala ng public is a big advantage. Si Grace (Poe) kasi hindi siya kilala as trapo, wala siyang bahid ng korapsyon," he said in a phone interview. 

 

"Mar Roxas doesn't need the NPC's machinery. LP has the biggest machinery and is the biggest political party. He met with the NPC not to get their support but to prevent their support for Grace," Casiple added. 

 

Casiple projected that those who voted for Aquino in 2010 will throw their support for Poe in 2016, in case the senator will decide to run for president. 

 

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, LP's chairman for political affairs, said their party is still trying to court the NPC. 

 

"We are the largest party, they are the second so they are important...We are working hard to get them," he said. 

 

Joey Salgado, the media affairs head of Vice President Jejomar Binay, the presumptive candidate of opposition party United Nationalist Alliance, said they are confident of the support of several NPC members come 2016. 

 

"For a candidate, importante and support either ng individual members or entire party. And not only with NPC but other parties as well," Salgado added. - Agatha Guidaben, GMA News Research/Jessica Bartolome, JJ/NB, GMA News