FORMER Pangasinan Representative Mark Cojuangco peddled Vice President Jejomar Binay like a hot item in a meeting with the Nationalist People鈥檚 Coalition (NPC) on Monday.
In an interview after the meeting, Cojuangco, the son of NPC Chair Emeritus Eduardo 鈥淒anding鈥� Cojuangco Jr., said his selling point about Binay is his experience in local government as Makati mayor for 20 years.
He said the meeting was a chance for Binay to explain his platform of governance.
鈥淣akakuha ang membership ng idea how is a Binay presidency. Like I said, ipaglalaban ko siya sa partido ko which ginawa ko today,鈥� Cojuangco said.
He said he hoped to convince the NPC, perceived to be largely supportive of Senators Grace Poe and Francis 鈥淐hiz鈥� Escudero as president and vice president in 2016 polls, to have an open mind.
鈥淪inasabi ko sa mga kasama ko bakit ako naglantad nung nakaraan na siya ang personal choice ko. Sinabi ko pagbuksan nila ang kaisipan nila at pag-isipan nila na piliin si VP Binay for President,鈥� he added.
After the meeting that lasted two hours, Binay was cheerful when he talked with reporters.
Asked if Cojuangco lobbied for him in the meeting, Binay said the former Pangasinan congressman merely expressed his 鈥渇eelings of support鈥� for him.
鈥淗indi siguro lobby. Basta鈥檛 sinabi niya ang kanyang feelings of support,鈥� Binay said.
He said he personally knows 85 to 90 percent of those who attended the meeting.
鈥淪iguro mga 85 to 90 percent matagal ko nang kakilala,鈥� Binay said.
He said he hoped to get the NPC鈥檚 support as the country鈥檚 second largest political party, adding that a possible alliance between NPC and his United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) would make them the coalition to beat.
鈥淭hat will be the effect. Kasi kahit papaano this is the second largest political party, you can just imagine,鈥� Binay said.
The NPC is the second largest political party in Congress next to President Aquino鈥檚 Liberal Party. It has two senators, some 40 House of Representatives members, 22 city mayors and 14 provincial governors. Marc Jayson Cayabyab