NPC solid behind Chiz, Loren despite Noynoy announcement

The Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) is unfazed by Senator Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III's decision to join the 2010 presidential race, its spokesman said Wednesday. In a statement, NPC spokesperson and Valenzuela City Rep. Rex Gatchalian said the party is confident that either Senator Francis “Chiz" Escudero or Senator Loren Legarda, the party's choices for standard bearer, would emerge victorious despite Aquino's popularity. “Our confidence emanates from the fact that both Senator Chiz nor Senator Loren are yet to declare their candidacies, but they consistently figure prominently in the surveys," Gatchalian said. Escudero placed fourth in the Pulse Asia survey on preferred presidential aspirants late last month, next to Senator Manuel Villar Jr., former President Joseph Estrada, and Vice President Noli de Castro. In the the 2nd Quarter 2009 presidential preference survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations, meanwhile, Escudero tied with Estrada at third place while Legarda ranked fourth. Villar and De Castro placed first and second, respectively. Gatchalian said the NPC expects the ratings of the two senators to go further up as the Danding Cojuangco-led party would immediately start rolling its machinery once it has chosen its presidential bet. “A Chiz-Loren or Loren-Chiz tandem will be formidable, and we are confident that they have a great chance of pulling it off in 2010," said the NPC spokesperson. Earlier during the day, Aquino ended speculation on whether he would respond positively to the clamor for him to run as president by announcing his plan to seek the presidency in 2010. Despite Aquino's perceived popularity, politicians from both the administration and opposition coalitions said they are unfazed by his announcement. - GMANews.TV