Danding accepts Chiz's explanation for leaving NPC, son says

Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco has accepted Senator Francis Escudero's sudden decision to leave the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), the business tycoon's son said Friday.

Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco, himself a member of the NPC, admitted that he and his father resented some of Escudero's statements, particularly when he said "Hindi ako heredero, andiyan ang tatay ko. Hindi ako haciendero at lalong hindi ako bilyonaryo (I am not an heir, my father is there. I am not a landlord and I am most definitely not a billionaire)," as they felt that they were being alluded to.

But the lawmaker said he and his father were appeased after the younger Cojuangco personally talked with Escudero about the senator's decision.

"Gusto niya magkaroon ng laya, hindi naman niya sinasabi na masama ang trato sa kanya ng NPC (I understood that he wanted to be free, but that doesn't mean he was treated badly by the NPC)," the younger Cojuangco said. "Sa palagay ko ang gusto niya may sarili siyang diskarte and so sa tingin ko baka tama sa kanya yun at nirerespeto ko ang mga desisyon niya (I think he wants to act on his own, and he might be right about that, so I respect his decision)."

After discussing the matter with Escudero, Rep. Cojuangco said he talked with his father, who is the NPC chairman emeritus. The elder Cojuangco established the NPC when he sought the presidency in 1992.

"Inexplain ko yung tungkol sa bilyonaryo, heredero, na hindi siya [Danding Cojuangco] ang tinutukoy (I explained the part about the billionaire, the heir, that he was not the one being referred to)," the congressman said. "Ang tinutukoy ay yung mga ibang presidentiables (Escudero was referring to the other presidentiables)."

"So gumaan din ang loob niya [Danding]. Akala niya talaga siya ang tinutukoy (Danding felt better. He really thought he was the one being alluded to)," Mark Cojuangco said.

He said the NPC has yet to discuss its next move after Escudero, its prospective presidential candidate, left. But there will definitely be consultations regarding possible coalitions with other political parties, he said.

The NPC is set to field Senator Loren Legarda as its vice presidential bet in the upcoming 2010 elections, as well as other national and local candidates. NPC officials said they are being asked to coalesce with other political parties for the 2010 elections, but that the party has yet to make its decision.

Source: GMANews.TV