The country’s second largest political party, Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and the controversial Makabayan bloc in the 17th Congress are showing their support for presumptive president Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City. The NPC and Makabayan bloc is set to join the ruling PDP-Laban Party for House Speakership against the members of the ruling Liberal Party.
The NPC is the party founded by former Ambassador and businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, considered as the second largest political party, which backed the presidential bid of Sen. Grace Poe during the 2016 national elections.
According to NPC spokesperson Mark Enverga, the party plans to work alongside President-elect Rodrigo Duterte for the betterment of the country and also noted that their party is still on the fence on the speakership. The party intends to sit down and hear out the legislative agendas of Cong. Bebot Alvarez and Speaker Sonny Belmonte.
Mayor Duterte on his part has endorsed the Speakership bid of long-time friend and PDP-Laban party-mate, incoming Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez against the current leader in the lower house, LP’s Sonny Belmonte which is supported by about 100 Liberal Party members, considered as the largest bloc in the Lower House.
The NPC on the other hand is second largest party in the Lower House with over 40 congressmen, followed by the National Unity Party, Nacionalista Party, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and Lakas. The party-list coalition is a separate group of 40 congressmen, excluding the Makabayan bloc.
Meanwhile the other bloc who is keen on supporting Mayor Duterte is the controversial Makabayan bloc as they welcomes the victory of Mayor Duterte but they also challenged Mayor Duterte to hold outgoing Pres. Aquino and Budget Secretary Butch Abad responsible for the allegedly illegal and graft-ridden Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) and the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
