Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte (Rep. Villafuerte's office)

The National Unity Party (NUP) is the political party to reckon with in the 2025 midterm elections. 

Party president Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte made this declaration on Tuesday, Sept. 24, a day after the NUP held its national convention at the Solaire North in Quezon City. 

“The NUP has certainly delivered for our people…with its steadfast support for the legislative agenda of our President in pursuit of his vision of a prosperous and peaceful Bagong Pilipinas where no Filipino will be left behind,” Villafuerte said. 

“I am confident that the NUP will be the party to reckon with in the next elections, given that NUP boasts having among the best incumbent officials who will be seeking reelection or running for different elective posts next year,” added the former three-term provincial governor. 

“Nasa atin ang hanay ng mga batikan, ang mga magagaling, ang malakas, mga maaasahan at mapagkakatiwalaan ng ating mga taongbayan,” underscored Villafuerte. 

(Included in our ranks are the veterans, the skilled, the strong, the dependable and the trustworthy.) 

Also carried out by the NUP on Monday night, Sept. 23 was the joint meeting of the party's national congress and central committee. 

Villafuerte--also the majority leader of the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA)--took over the reins at NUP after the late Cavite 4th district Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. stepped down following the May 2022 elections. 

At the convention, the NUP leaders affirmed two resolutions—the first one, which upheld the month-ago election of its national officials led by its chairman, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, and its president, Villafuerte; and the second one, which green-lit a four-point action plan “to strengthen the party and provide an effective mechanism for the purpose of the May 12, 2025 elections".

Aside from Puno and Villafuerte, the other NUP national officers are Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla, its vice chairman for internal affairs; Antipolo  Rep. Romeo Acop, vice chairman for external affairs; Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II, vice chairman for legislative affairs; Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, vice chairman for local governments; Bulacan Rep. Lorna Silverio, vice president for Luzon; Cebu Rep. Pablo John Garcia, vice president for the Visayas; Agusan del Sur Rep. Adolph Edward Plaza, vice president for Mindanao;  Cavite Rep. Antonio Ferrer, treasurer; and Bataan Rep. Albert Raymond Garcia, secretary-general. 

Meanwhile, the second resolution spelled out the action plan as follows:

·       to initiate a programmed, sustained and aggressive recruitment program with the end in view of establishing and strengthening chapters in the regions, provinces, cities and municipalities across the country;

·       to field candidates for congressional and local elective positions;

·       to authorize the NUP chairman, president, secretary-general, provincial chairpersons and district chairpersons to nominate official party candidates and issue the corresponding certificates of nomination; and

·       to seek accreditation from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the NUP as a major national political party for the coming 2025 elections.