Nacionalista Party denies merger with PDP-Laban

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Cynthia Villar on Tuesday denied reports that the Nacionalista Party (NP) has merged with another party after meetings with Partidong Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and its possible presidential bet Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte.

Villar, wife of NP president and former Sen. Manny Villar, said their political party always talks with PDP-Laban leaders but not through a formal meeting for a possible merger.

 ”We’re wondering why this merger came out in the newspapers that we have jumped ship to Mayor Duterte. According to (former) Sen. Manny Villar, we have not decided, how come we will jump ship?” Sen. Villar said.

Villar said that their frequent meetings with PDP Laban, which eyes Duterte as their standard bearer, are only meant to share opinion and discuss issues concerning the country.

”We’re always meeting with PDP Laban. It’s like sharing of opinion. We always meet regularly together with Koko (PDP-Laban President Aquilino Pimentel III). We’re talking of the problems of the Philippines,” the senator said.

Last June, the senator added that NP is not discounting the possibility of forging a coalition with PDP.

Aside from PDP, NP was also rumored to have merged with Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) following claims of its President Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao that NP is forming an alliance to support the candidacy of Sens. Grace Poe as president and Francis “Chiz” Escudero as vice president.

NPC’s claim was also denied by the senator last July.

NP coalesced with the ruling Liberal Party and NPC under Team PNoy in 2013 mid-term elections where Cynthia won as one of the nine Team PNoy’s senatorial bets who made it in the top 12.