NPC unfazed by P’sinan board members’ resignation

ROSALES, Pangasinan, Philippines – The camp of former congressman Mark Cojuangco is unperturbed over the resignation of at least nine provincial board members from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), according to his spokesman.

Engineer Rosendo So told The STAR it is normal that some politicians shift party affiliation. “They come and go and we cannot stop that,” he said.

“Those who want to join the party are welcome and those who leave are also welcome,” he added.

So denied that Cojuangco, NPC provincial chairman, has differences with Gov. Amado Espino Jr., as alleged in the resignation letter of the nine board members.

“That is just an intrigue because they (Cojuangco and Espino) are talking,” So said.

According to political observers, Cojuangco’s ties with Espino went sour after the former earlier announced his gubernatorial bid in 2016.

Espino is on his third and last term, and according to sources, his son and namesake, board member Amado Espino III, president of the provincial Liga ng mga Barangay, is being groomed to succeed him. The Espinos are NPC members.

Nine board members, including Alfonso Bince Jr., Danilo Uy, Angel Baniqued Jr., Nestor Reyes, and Raul Sison, signed on May 7 a resignation letter addressed to Faustino Dy and Frisco San Juan, NPC national chairman and president, respectively.

Four other board members – Napoleon Fontelera, Anthony Sison, Clemente Arboleda Jr. and Mojamito Libunao Jr. – have also committed to sign the resignation letter, Bince told The STAR.

Their resignation would take effect on June 1.