Danding's NPC to field Loren, Chiz in 2010 - report

MANILA, Philippines – Business tycoon and former ambassador Eduardo “Danding" Cojuangco has revealed that the party he founded in 1992, the Nationalist Peoples’ Coalition (NPC), will field either Senator Loren Legarda or her colleague Sen. Francis Escudero as the party's standard bearer in 2010 presidential elections. Cojuangco made the announcement during the NPC Christmas party, which was also attended by heads of other political parties such as Speaker Prospero Nograles, president of Lakas-CMD, and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, president of Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino or Kampi. Lakas and Kampi are both allied with the Arroyo administration. “Kung sino man sa kanilang dalawa ang mangingibabaw sa survey pagdating siguro ng pilian, yun ang kandidato naming presidente at yung matalo yun ang aming bise (presidente)," Cojuangco told GMA reporter Sandra Aguinaldo. Rizal Rep. Juack Duavit, NPC secretary general, said the party will play a big role in the 2010 presidential polls. “I think we will play a big part in 2010 elections. The number one and number two senators are from our party," Duavit referring to Legarda and Escudero, who topped the 2007 senatorial elections. Cojuangco, the current chairman emeritus of NPC, founded the party when he ran for president in 1992. But he lost to former President Fidel Ramos, then the standard bearer of the Lakas-NUCD. Based on latest Social Weather Station and Pulse Asia surveys among the so called “presidentiables," Legarda’s ratings are much higher compared to Escudero. But Legarda is only third to Vice President Noli de Castro and former Senate President Manny Villar. GMA news 24 Oras on Tuesday reported that aside from NPC members, other personalities who attended the party were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza and Grace Poe, daughter of the late movie action king Fernando Poe Jr. Cojuangco was joined in the presidential table by Enrile, Nograles, and Villarfuerte, all allies of President Gloria Arroyo and openly advocating for charter change. But Cojuangco refused to comment about the latest move to amend the constitution, according to Aguinaldo. But Cojuangco son – Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco – said his father is open to Cha-cha as long as the term extension of the president will not be touch. “My father is always been supportive of Charter change because he believes that a parliamentary system is a better form of government," the younger Cojuangco said. Meanwhile, Grace who was being wooed by her father’s supporters to run for senator in 2010 said her priority first is to block Cha-cha and reform the electoral process. “Right now my focus is on electoral reform and anti Cha-cha. So it is nice to converse with some of them and hopefully know their views are and share mine," she said. Escudero said it is too early to talk about 2010 elections, while Legarda refused to comment on Cojuangco’s statement. - Fidel Jimenez, GMANews.TV