LINGAYEN, Philippines –At least nine provincial board members of Pangasinan are resigning from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), citing differences with their provincial chairman, former fifth district congressman Mark Cojuangco.
In a letter to Faustino Dy Jr. and Frisco San Juan, national chairman and president respectively of NPC, the board members said their resignation would take effect on June 1.
The board members expressed the belief their resignation would benefit the NPC, as there is a looming political confrontation between the two ranking officials of the party in Pangasinan, Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and Cojuangco.
They said the announcement of Cojuangco to run for governor in the 2016 elections and remarks against Espino have caused disarray and a shift of loyalty among their followers and leaders, which they said is detrimental to the interest of the party.
The signatories cited the early politicking and visits of Cojuangco in their districts allegedly without informing them. They said Cojuangco’s action is a breach of protocol among partymates and a possible source of disunity.
The letter was signed by board members Nestor Reyes and Raul Sision (second district), Angel Baniqued Jr. (third district), Danilo Uy (fourth district) and Alfonso Bince Jr. (sixth).
Two other board members from the first district, Napoleon Fontelera Jr. and Anthony Sison, whose names appeared in the letter of resignation, were expected to sign the document yesterday.
Bince said they want to stay independent so they can choose freely between Cojuangco, and Espino’s son and namesake, board member Amado Espino III, also an NPC member who is eyeing the gubernatorial post in 2016.
Cojuangco, in a text message to The STAR, said he is not surprised by the move of the board members, noting their alleged dependency on the governor.
An ally of Cojuangco, said the resignation of the nine would not affect the NPC.