3 NP men join VP race, but no standard-bearer

MANILA, Philippines - Three senators belonging to the Nacionalista Party (NP) will be running for vice president next year, as the party is not likely to come up with a presidential candidate.

Sen. Cynthia Villar, an NP member, said the party is inclined to support the candidacies of Sens. Alan Peter Cayetano, Antonio Trillanes IV and Ferdinand Marcos Jr., all aiming for the vice presidency.

In Davao City, Cayetano declared his bid to run for vice president in the May 2016 elections, ending speculations that he would be fielded as running mate to Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas. 

“I am running for vice president of the Republic of the Philippines, I am putting my faith in God and in our people,” Cayetano announced in a press conference yesterday afternoon. 

He explained that the decision is his own and not of NP. 

Trillanes earlier announced his intention to seek the second highest post, adding that the NP has agreed to declare a ‘zona libre’ (free zone) when it comes to the vice presidency.

Villar earlier said Marcos would likely run as an independent as she assured the three of the NP’s financial and logistical support.

“If you ask the three of them, they are all sure they have a fight. What kind of a candidate will say that he is going to lose? That means that your political party (is of) good quality… because we have many candidates. We are brave and we have fighting spirit. Brave men are good allies. I like them,” said Villar, the wife of NP president and real estate magnate, former senator Manny Villar.

More choices

Villar said Cayetano’s surprise move of declaring his VP bid in Davao City could be an indication that the NP senator will run with Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Roxas, for his part, wished Cayetano well. “I was with Senator Cayetano at the House of Representatives. I recruited him as deputy when I was the majority leader. I wish him luck,” Roxas said.

Vice President Jejomar Binay also welcomed Cayetano’s decision, saying “it’s good, because the people will have more choices for vice president.” Both Cayetano and Trillanes led the investigation into allegations of irregularities committed by Binay and his family members in government.

Sen. Francis Escudero, who is running in tandem with presidential contender Sen. Grace Poe, wished Cayetano well, describing him as “capable, experienced and has every right to offer himself and run for higher office.”

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, PDP-Laban party president, said he has no problems with a Duterte-Cayetano run, should the city mayor finally decide to run for president, describing it as “formidable, strong and winnable.”

He added that Cayetano’s gesture of announcing his candidacy in Mindanao, even if not a native of the island, is symbolic.

Although he is also amenable to a Duterte-Trillanes pairing, he objects to a Duterte-Marcos team up, explaining that the PDP-Laban was forged to combat martial rule imposed by the late President Ferdinand Marcos.  

Trillanes, who also wished Cayetano luck, said he is pushing his bid for the vice presidency as an independent candidate.

“As a partymate, I totally respect his decision and I wish him well,” he said. – With Edith Regalado, Alexis Romero, Perseus Echeminada, Helen Flores, Marvin Sy