NP won't merge w/ other parties

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines – The Nacionalista Party, led by incumbent Sen. Manny Villar, will not merge with other political parties but is considering coalition with them and may be letting an open field for its local members.

This was the clarification made by the senator’s wife, former Las Piñas City Rep. Cynthia Villar, who was in Bohol last Sunday.

In a press conference at the Bohol Tropics Resort Club here, Mrs. Villar said the NP may not field bets in the local race next year, but she and the party will support partymates who may run for elective posts in the 2013 elections, particularly the incumbent town mayors in Bohol.

Villar breezed into town to crown the Miss Tubigon 2012, whose mayor Willian Jao is her partymate. She was assisted by Gov. Edgar Chatto and Rep. Rene Relampagos (1st district, Bohol).

In her stopover in the city, Villar told the media that she is running for the Senate in next year’s polls, and then explained the stand of the NP over its local candidates.

“Ang instruction sa baba is kung sino yong kakampi (ng LP) sa baba yon ang susuportahan namin. Dahil hindi namin sila mapipilit. Like we have provinces na ang ka-coalesce Liberal. Meron naman kaming provinces opposition. Hindi naman kami pwedeng mamilit,” she said.

Even for the senatorial slate, the NP would just go for guest candidacy or coalition. She said she expected a multi-colored Senate because there can never be a one-party Senate.

“Sa senador, bihira lang yong iisa ang partido. Usually, aapat ang LP, aapat ang NP, may NPC, may independent, may PMP. Wala naman talagang iisang partido sa Senado. Ang pinakamarami nila do’n, apat na NP, apat na LP at halo-halo na,” she said.

Villar also met with the 11 NP mayors of Bohol on the political situation. They were: (1st district) Mayors Alvin Uy of Baclayon town, Jose Nicanor Tocmo of Corella, Jimmy Jimenez of Dauis, Jose Ellorimo of Sikatuna and William Jao of Tubigon; (2nd district) Niño Rey Boniel of Bien Unido and Jacinto Naraga of San Isidro; and (3rd district) Marnilou Ayuban of Alicia, Angelina Simacio of Anda, Norman Palacio of Bilar and Miguelito Galendez of Garcia-Hernandez.

Villar added that former vice governor Julius Caesar Herrera might still be handling the NP provincial campaign, and explained further that the NP’s support is always in order considering that it boasts of 200 elective municipal mayors and another 200 vice-mayors, 30 congressmen and 20 ally-partylists nationwide. —(FREEMAN)