LP-NP-NPC alliance glued together with trust and honor

It's a done deal as far as former Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar is concerned. And all it doesn’t need is the imprimatur of having the coalition registered with the Commission on Elections.

 

In a phone interview with GMA News Online, Villar confirmed that the Liberal Party, Nacionalista Party, and Nationalist People’s Coalition have already “agreed in principle” to form a coalition. 

 

However, Villar said the LP-NP-NPC coalition has no plans on registering the alliance before the Commission on Elections or formalizing it on paper. “This will be a partnership among honorable people,” she said, adding, “We don’t think it’s necessary. The relationship will be based on trust.”   

Asked how the coalition will work together during local elections, Villar said the coalition is still discussing possible scenarios. “What we’re sure of at this point is the fact that the three parties will be forming an alliance on a national level,” she explained.

 

Manny has moved on

 

When asked if she feels comfortable running with her husband’s rival, Cynthia said Manny Villar has long moved on. 

 

“When he learned about his defeat, he immediately conceded,” Cynthia said. 

“Laging sinasabi sa akin ni Senator Villar, he wanted this administration to succeed,” she added.

 

“We think the coalition among the three parties will be best for this country’s welfare,” Cynthia explained.  

 

Reform agenda will be the basis for unity

 

In a separate interview, former Akbayan party-list representative Risa Hontiveros said the reform agenda of President Aquino, which is composed of anti-corruption mechanisms and poverty-alleviating initiatives, would most likely be the basis of unity among the different parties.

 

“I think the reform agenda of the current administration will be able to reconcile the differences in three parties,” Hontiveros said. 

  

When asked if she was running for the Senate under the coalition ticket, she replied “We [Akbayan] have already accepted the invitation of the president to run as a guest candidate.”

 

Several names have been floated as possible senate coalition candidates: Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV, Senator Loren Legarda, Senator Chiz Escudero, former Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, Customs deputy commissioner Danilo Lim, former Senator Jun Magsaysay, Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, TESDA chairman Joel Villanueva and Rep. Erin Tañada. — DVM, GMA News