Palace welcomes support from ex-President Arroyo's allies

Malacañang on Saturday welcomed the promise of support from a new party that includes former allies of ex-President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. “We hope to see their support for the reform agenda in the coming days," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper reported Saturday that a new political party that includes Arroyo’s former allies pledged “total support and commitment" to President Benigno Aquino III’s reform agenda. The new National Unity Party (NUP) wished to be “constructive in our cooperation," Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino said, according to the report. Valte pointed out that it is not hard to support Aquino’s “social contract" with the Filipinos. “Kung tayo nagmamalasakit sa bayan hindi mahirap suportahin ang Pangulo," Valte said, adding that all it takes is a little sacrifice for the country. 32 congressmen, 18 governors The Inquirer report quoted Antonino as saying the NUP currently counts 32 members of the House of Representatives and 18 governors on its roster. He, moreover, expects the figure to rise to 40 and 30, respectively. The formation of the new party came on the heels of Arroyo’s personal criticism against Aquino, who she chided for his supposed lack of leadership and failure to build on the gains of her administration. — JE, GMA News