TARLAC CITY, Tarlac--Leaders of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) here have endorsed the candidacies of UniTeam presidential bet Bongbong Marcos and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Local figureheads of the longstanding and influential party came up with their endorsement during the meet-and-greet with local and sectoral leaders organized for UniTeam by Governor Susan Yap and his brother Tarlac Rep. Victor Yap, who both belong to NPC, at the Diwa multi-purpose center here.
The party was formed by the late business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco Jr.
It is now chaired by Senate President Vicente Sotto llI, who incidentally is vying for the vice presidency in the May 2022 polls. Tarlac is a known opposition bailiwick, mostly due to its connection with the Aquino political family
Sotto is the running mate of independent Palace aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson.
Rep. Yap said his governor-sister, who is the party leader in their province, has given them the freedom to choose who to support among the presidential and vice presidential hopeful.
"Ako po ay naatasan na magsalita ng isang commitment ng partido, ng NPC sa aming lalawigan. Si governor kinausap lahat ng mga miyembro ng Tarlac, pati ang mga pamilyang kinikilala natin dito tulad ng mga Cojuangco. Kinausap din niya ang mga leader ng partido upang ibigay ang laya na tayo ay sumunod na dito sa tandem (I've been asked to talk about NPC's commitment as a party to the province. The governor has spoken to all members of the NPC here in Tarlac, including the known families like the Cojuangcos. She also spoke with the party leaders in order to give us the freedom to follow the Marcos-Duterte tandem),” he said.
When asked to clarify his statement about their support, he said the NPC-Tarlac chapter and its political allies have decided to back the UniTeam candidates.
"Yes, we the provincial NPC and those others (affiliated or not) support the BBM-Sara tandem," the congressman said in a text message.
The lawmaker introduced Marcos during the program as the “best candidate” for president in the upcoming May 9 elections.
For her part, Governor Yap thanked Mayor Duterte and her father, President Duterte for pouring infrastructure projects in Tarlac despite its links to the opposition.
“I feel the warmth of this administration and it is my responsibility to really campaign hard for her, no other than ang aking minamahal at nakilala ko (my beloved) Mayor Sara Duterte,” she told her constituents before introducing the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) chairperson at the event.
The Yaps then joined Marcos during the Paniqui town grand rally of the UniTeam administration ticket.
Marcos and Mayor Duterte are frontrunners in the surveys for president and vice president, respectively.