NPC to announce next week candidates it will support in 2016

MANILA, Philippines – The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) is set to announce next week its decision on candidates they will support in the 2016 elections next week, according to NPC member, Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto.

"Sa ngayon... ang pagkakalam ko is by next week magdedesiyon ang leadership at ikokonsulta ito... kung talagang makakapili na 'dun sa mga inimbita namin," Sotto said in a radio interview with dzMM on Sunday.

Sotto added that most members of NPC, the second largest political party in the country, are likely to support Sens. Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero, running as president and vice president, respectively.

The senator said he cannot disclose any opinion regarding Poe as he is among the nine members of the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) handling the disqualification case against Poe.

On Thursday, NPC said they are still undecided on presidential bets. However, NPC chair and House Deputy Speaker Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao is personally supporting Poe and Escudero.

Aggabao clarified that the NPC is yet to decide as a party but he backs the Poe-Escudero tandem under his personal capacity.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Sec. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay have also declared their intention to run as president next year.