NPC stalwart to Poe's rivals: Stop questioning party's unity

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — Other political parties should stop doubting whether the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) will remain united following its endorsement of the tandem of Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero, a party stalwart said Tuesday.

Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, Poe's spokesperson, said other parties are just sowing intrigue by doubting the unity among NPC members and urged them to stop questioning its "cohesion."

"As an NPC member, I believe that the other political parties should refrain from questioning the cohesion of the NPC as a party," Gatchalian said in a text message. "Our party officers clearly stated yesterday that they expect all party members to tow the line shortly."

Gatchalian, who used to be NPC’s spokesperson, said he was taken aback by the other parties' claim against the NPC members' loyalty when they had also sought its endorsement in the past.

"It’s quite surprising to hear some political parties doubting the unity of the NPC, when all of them courted the party precisely because of the collective strength of the party. Now that the party has cast its lot with Sen. Poe and not them, they come out tarnishing the unity of NPC," he said.

NPC is considered the second largest political party in the country. It has fielded a total of 4,129 candidates for various national and local positions in the upcoming elections.

Camps of Poe’s rivals—namely Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II—earlier claimed that not all NPC members will support her and Escudero’s candidacies.

Before announcing the adoption of Poe and Escudero as its presidential and vice presidential candidates, respectively, the NPC met separately with all presidential contenders with the exception of Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago.

Gatchalian said he is confident that the entire NPC will consolidate its full force behind the candidacies of Poe and Escudero.

"The NPC time and again has proven its conhesion and will once again show it this coming elections," he said. —KBK, GMA News