With Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso's impending transfer to the Aksyon Demokratiko, the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) may have to reconsider forging an alliance with the political party for the 2022 elections.
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said on Saturday, August 7, that the NPC has not yet decided on whether or not to form alliances with other political parties, considering possible candidates that might clash with their members.
This includes the Aksyon Demokratiko, which Domagoso is set to join in after resigning from the National Unity Party (NUP).
"NPC has yet to decide on whether we will form alliances or not, specially in the local level, because of our numerous incumbent officials that might encounter opposition from other parties in their areas," Sotto, NPC's chairman, said in a text message to the Manila Bulletin.
Sotto is planning to run for vice president in 2022, with Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson as his running mate for presidency.
But Domagoso is also rumored as eyeing either presidency or vice presidency.
Last July 14, Sotto and Lacson met with officials of Aksyon Demokratiko about a possible alliance for the 2022 polls.
There are no formal talks yet between the NPC and Aksyon since their meeting, Sotto said.
"None yet. Their president just died so we don't really know what's up in their group," he said, referring to the passing of Aksyon Demokratiko head Herminio Aquino last July 31.
He previously said the NPC is being careful about forging alliances with other parties.
"We're very careful about alliances in the NPC dahil nadala na kami noong araw (because we learned from our previous alliances)...'Yong mga kandidato namin na incumbent, pinapalabanan nila. 'Di pupwede 'yon (They were fielding candidates against our incumbents and candidates. We cannot agree to that)," he told reporters in an interview last July 22.
Sotto had said that his partymates are supporting his bid for vice presidency.
Domagoso was scheduled to take his oath in Aksyon last Thursday but postponed it due to the recent chaos in Manila's vaccination centers.
Explaining his decision jump ship from NUP to Aksyon, he said in a radio interview Friday that he does not want to be a "problem" to his political party. The NUP wants an alliance with the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), which is led by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, another potential presidential candidate.
Aksyon Demokratiko was founded by late senator Raul Roco in 1998.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, the Senate President's nephew, is currently the executive vice president of the party.