Nationalist People's Coalition

Nationalist People's Coalition
LeaderMark Cojuangco
ChairmanTito Sotto
PresidentJack Duavit
Secretary–GeneralMark Llandro Mendoza
SpokespersonMark Enverga
FounderDanding Cojuangco
Founded1992 (1992)[1]
Split fromNacionalista
Headquarters808 Building, Meralco Avenue, San Antonio, Pasig, 1605 Metro Manila
NewspaperNPC Herald
IdeologyFilipino nationalism
Conservatism[2][3][4]
Social conservatism[5][6]
Political positionCentre-right[7][8]
National affiliationBagong Pilipinas (2024–present)
Former:
Coalition members (1995)
Colors      Green, red, white
Senate
6 / 24
House of Representatives
34 / 318
[9]
Provincial Governors
5 / 82
Provincial Vice Governors
5 / 82
Provincial Board members
58 / 840

The Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC; Filipino: Pambansang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan) is a conservative political party in the Philippines which was founded in 1992 by Danding Cojuangco.

History

Formation

In 1990, amid political and economic uncertainty in the aftermath of the 1986 People Power Revolution, members of civil society and business groups invited businessman Danding Cojuangco, a former associate of deposed President Ferdinand Marcos and estranged cousin of President Corazon Aquino, to lead a national coalition for the 1992 national elections. Cojuangco's supporters, who called themselves Friends of Danding, began organizing because of limited time before the polls.

Cojuangco expressed interest in running under the Nacionalista Party, where he had long-standing ties, provided the nomination process was fair. Two other national figures were also seeking the party nomination, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and Vice President Salvador Laurel, who was the party president. Internal disputes arose between Laurel and former Rizal Governor Isidro Rodriguez over the nomination rules. With the issues unresolved and the party divided, Cojuangco's backers formed a new party, Partido Pilipino, led by Jerry Barican, Antonio Gatmaitan, and Butch Valdes. The Commission on Elections officially registered the party on February 5, 1991.

The Nacionalistas eventually split into the Laurel and Rodriguez wings, with the latter supporting Cojuangco. A court ruling in favor of the Laurel wing prompted Cojuangco's allies to consolidate under a broader umbrella group, the Nationalist People's Coalition. This coalition included the Rodriguez wing, Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, Partido Pilipino and its regional parties such as Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija, sectoral groups, and independent politicians backing Cojuangco.

Ramos administration

1992 presidential election

In the 1992 presidential election, Cojuangco ran for president under the NPC–Partido Pilipino banner with Senator Joseph Estrada, whose Partido ng Masang Pilipino coalesced with NPC, for vice president. Other NPC candidates for various races ran under affiliated parties. Cojuangco placed third, losing to Marcos' cousin Fidel V. Ramos, who was endorsed by President Aquino, while Estrada won the vice presidential race in a landslide. Following the elections, Partido Pilipino was renamed as the Nationalist People's Coalition, formalizing the group into a political party whose leadership was transferred to newly-elected NPC officers.[10] The NPC joined the Lakas–NUCD-led Rainbow Coalition, a caucus coalition in the House of Representatives formed with multiple national parties.[11]

In the 1995 Senate election, the NPC became the official opposition coalition against the administration Lakas–Laban Coalition, led by President Ramos and Senator Edgardo Angara of Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino. The party's senatorial slate included half-termer senators Nikki Coseteng and Arturo Tolentino, Ilocos Norte representative Bongbong Marcos of KBL, former military mutineer Gregorio Honasan and 1992 People's Reform Party presidential candidate Miriam Defensor Santiago.[12] Senate President and NPC leader Ernesto Maceda, however, reportedly conceded NPC's defeat to President Ramos days before the election, as the latter also claimed.[13] Only Santiago, Honasan and Coseteng managed to win Senate seats.

Estrada administration

The NPC coalesced with Angara's LDP, Estrada's PMP, and PDP–Laban of former senator Nene Pimentel, to form Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino for the 1998 national elections. LAMMP served as the political vehicle of Vice President Estrada in that year's presidential election.[14] In the House elections, some youngster politicians who were elected into Congress under LAMMP were dubbed as the Bright Boys, including NPC-affiliated neophyte congressmen Francis Escudero, Gilbert Teodoro and Ace Durano.[15]

Following the juetenggate scandal in October 2000, House Speaker Manny Villar of LAMMP successfully presided over the impeachment of President Estrada in the House plenary. The pro-Estrada group ousted Villar from office and tapped Arnulfo Fuentebella as his replacement, making this the only time when a current NPC member held the House speakership. The NPC left the rapidly disintegrating LAMMP after Estrada was removed from power in January 2001.[14]

Arroyo administration

When Gloria Macapagal Arroyo assumed the presidency in January 2001, her Lakas–CMD-led People Power Coalition ( became the dominant group in Congress.[16] The 75-member ruling party led the "Sunshine Coalition," which included the 61-member NPC, members of the Liberal Party, and several other minor parties,[16] while the LDP led the 20-member opposition bloc.[16] Having no candidate for the 2001 Senate election, the NPC junked five opposition candidates from Puwersa ng Masa, namely National Defense Secretary Orly Mercado, former Social Welfare and Development undersecretary Jamby Madrigal, Muslim Mindanao leader Ombra Tamano, former senator Santanina Rasul and former Information undersecretary Reuben Canoy.[17]

In 2003, NPC stalwarts led by Escudero and Teodoro filed an impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. for allegedly misusing judiciary funds for acquiring luxury cars and homes. However, the complaint, despite successfully gaining enough signatures to proceed,[18] was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.[19] Rumors speculated that the coalition would be abolished, as pro-impeachment congressmen, mainly from the NPC, were disappointed with the failure of Davide's impeachment,[20] as well as that there emerged a faction lacking satisfaction over the leadership of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.[20][21] Some party members prompted the NPC to quit the ruling coalition ahead of the 2004 national elections[22] and join the opposition, to no avail.[23]

In 2003, the NPC and LDP backed party founder Cojuangco as a potential contender for the 2004 presidential election.[14] However, Cojuangco, the NPC chairperson, decided not to run for the second time. Before the end of the year, the NPC was sending mixed signals on whether to stay on the administration camp or jump into the opposition.[24] Although the NPC had no seats in the Senate, the party had 53 seats in the House of Representatives that time.[25] Eventually, the NPC was divided, with Cojuangco, his sons Charlie and Mark, and nephew Gilbert Teodoro supporting incumbent President Arroyo's full-term bid, while the other faction led by Escudero, Maceda and Darlene Antonino Custodio supported opposition bet Fernando Poe Jr. of Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino. Escudero, who became Poe's spokesperson, berated the Arroyo administration for alleged widespread cheating and vehemently protested in the congressional canvassing of presidential votes.[26]

2005

In mid-2005, led by its House Leader Chiz Escudero, his anti-Arroyo NPC colleagues launched an impeachment complaint against incumbent President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who was apologizing for being busted for calling an election commissioner to ensure her win.[27] Ultimately, Lakas-led House crushed the impeachment 158–51.[28]

2007

With Escudero and newly-sworn member Loren Legarda joining Geniuine Opposition (GO), LDP stalwarts Tito Sotto and Tessie Aquino Oreta left their party and joined the NPC, but the latter two become ticket candidates of administration's TEAM Unity. Sotto claimed that some GO supporters and politicians defecting to the NPC.[29] Escudero and Legarda managed to win, but Sotto and Aquino-Oreta lost.

Escudero and Teodoro's ambition for 2010

Two of its former House stalwarts, Senator Chiz Escudero and Defense Secretary Teodoro left NPC for their presidential ambitions.[30] Teodoro joined Lakas–Kampi and launched his presidential campaign there, while Escudero planned also to run for presidency, but later withdrawn his bid and launched NoyBi. NPC, led by its new chairman Faustino Dy Jr.,[31] forged a coalition with Manny Villar's Nacionalista to support the latter's presidential campaign with selection of Loren Legarda as running mate.

Aquino years: 2010–2016

2010: with Manny Villar

After Manny Villar of Nacionalista officially launched his campaign for presidency, his party and NPC launched a coalition building, with Legarda and Escudero are considered to be his running-mate,[32] with the selection of the former.

2013

With Tito Sotto's chairmanship assumption, NPC forged an alliance with the administration's Team PNoy. But Sotto sided with Jejomar Binay's UNA, with Congressman Jack Enrile as one of its senatorial candidates.

2022–present: Bongbong Marcos years

2022 elections: Divided on presidentiables

After Cojuangco's death in 2020,[33] NPC supported the vice presidential campaign of its chairman Sotto. But, in the preferences of presidential candidates, majority of them supported either Bongbong Marcos, or Panfilo Lacson's campaign, which was Sotto's running mate.[34]

2025 elections: Sotto vs. Escudero in Senate Presidency

After the victory of Tito Sotto in senate elections of the same year, him and Chiz Escudero, are rumored to battle for senate presidency. One of their members in the Senate JV Ejercito proposed the two to make a gentlemen's agreement, with Escudero stay and Sotto will be the next seated.[35][36][37] With majority of NPC Senate members voted to retain Escudero as Senate President, Legarda joined Sotto in the minority.[38]

2025 Senate coup

Amid controversies of Escudero receiving donations from flood control contractors,[39] which he denied,[40] and with 15 votes (which includes all NPC members except Escudero), Escudero was kicked out from the Senate Presidency with the return of Sotto.[41]

1995 election

The NPC fielded a 12-person Senatorial slate in the 1995 elections as an opposition party to the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos. They ran against the administration-backed Lakas–Laban Coalition.

Candidate Party Occupation /
Previous position 		Elected
Rose Marie Arenas NPC Businesswoman No
Gaudencio Beduya NPC Former representative from Cebu No
Anna Dominique Coseteng NPC Senator Yes
Amanda T. Cruz NPC Businesswoman No
Ramon Fernandez NPC Professional basketball player No
Gregorio Honasan Independent Former colonel Yes
Bongbong Marcos KBL Representative from Ilocos Norte
son of Ferdinand Marcos 		No
Adelisa A. Raymundo NPC Former labor sectoral representative No
Manuel C. Roxas NPC Lawyer No
Almarin C. Tillah NPC Chair of the Bangsamoro National Congress No
Arturo Tolentino NPC Senator No
Miriam Defensor Santiago PRP Former Bureau of Immigration
and Deportation commissioner,
1992 presidential candidate 		Yes

Candidates

2007 election

In the 2007 elections, the party won 26 seats:

2010

2010 presidential elections

Loren Legarda – Vice-presidential candidate from the Nacionalista Party and LDP (lost)

Senate:

2013

Senate:

2016

Senate:

2019

Senate:

2022

Vice President: Tito Sotto (lost)

Senate:

2025

Senate:

Electoral performance

Presidential and vice presidential elections

Year Presidential election Vice presidential election
Candidate Vote share Result Candidate Vote share Result
1992 Eduardo
"Danding"
Cojuangco Jr.
18.17%
 Fidel Ramos
(Lakas) 		Joseph Estrada
33.00%
 Joseph Estrada
(NPC)
1998 None Joseph Estrada
(PMP) 		None Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
(Lakas)
2004 None[n 1] Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
(Lakas) 		None[n 2] Noli de Castro
(Independent)
2010 None[n 3] Benigno Aquino III
(Liberal) 		Loren Legarda
12.21%
 Jejomar Binay
(PDP–Laban)
2016 None[n 4] Rodrigo Duterte
(PDP–Laban) 		None[n 5] Leni Robredo
(Liberal)
2022 None[n 6][42] Bongbong Marcos
(PFP) 		Vicente Sotto III
15.89%
 Sara Z. Duterte
(Lakas)

Legislative elections

Congress of the Philippines
Year Seats won Result Year Seats won Ticket Result
1992
30 / 200
 LDP plurality 1992
5 / 24
 Single party ticket LDP win 16/24 seats
1995
22 / 204
 Lakas–Laban majority 1995
1 / 12
 NPC ticket Lakas–Laban win 9/12 seats
1998[n 7]
64 / 258
 Lakas plurality 1998
1 / 12
 LAMMP LAMMP win 7/12 seats
2001
40 / 256
 Lakas plurality 2001 Not
participating 		People Power win 8/13 seats
2004
53 / 261
 Lakas plurality 2004
0 / 12
 KNP K4 win 7/12 seats
2007
28 / 270
 Lakas plurality 2007
2 / 12
 Split ticket GO win 8/12 seats
2010
29 / 286
 Lakas–Kampi plurality 2010
1 / 12
 Split ticket Liberal win 4/12 seats
2013
42 / 292
 Liberal plurality 2013
1 / 12
 Split ticket Team PNoy win 9/12 seats
2016
42 / 297
 Liberal plurality 2016
1 / 12
 PGP Daang Matuwid win 7/12 seats
2019
37 / 304
 PDP–Laban plurality 2019
1 / 12
 Split ticket Hugpong win 9/12 seats
2022
35 / 316
 PDP–Laban plurality 2022
4 / 12
 Split ticket UniTeam win 6/12 seats
2025
31 / 317
 Lakas plurality 2025
2 / 12
 Bagong Pilipinas Bagong Pilipinas win 6/12 seats

Notes

  1. ^ NPC faction led by Chiz Escudero endorsed Fernando Poe Jr. for president, while Cojuangco–Teodoro–Yap wing supported Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
  2. ^ NPC endorsed Loren Legarda for president.
  3. ^ Legarda's running mate was Manny Villar, a Nacionalista.
  4. ^ NPC endorsed Grace Poe for president.
  5. ^ NPC endorsed Chiz Escudero (Independent) for vice president.
  6. ^ There are no official Presidential standard bearer even Sotto has running mate (Ping Lacson) who is independent.
  7. ^ Contested in an electoral alliance with LDP and PMP as LAMMP. Seat total consists of 55 LAMMP representatives and 9 NPC representatives elected outside the LAMMP alliance.

19th Congress

Senate

House of Representatives

District Representatives

  • Tyrone Agabas
  • Genaro Alvarez
  • Erico Aristotle Aumentado
  • Lorna Bautista-Bandigan
  • Elias Bulut, Jr.
  • Luis Campos, Jr.
  • Solomon Chungalao
  • Carlos Cojuangco
  • Faustino Michael Dy III
  • Ian Paul Dy
  • Michael John Duavit
  • Mark Enverga
  • Sandra Eriguel
  • Evelina Guevarra-Escudero
  • Bayani Fernando
  • Arnie Fuentebella
  • Weslie Gatchalian
  • Greg Gasataya
  • J. Veronique Lacson-Noel
  • Loren Legarda
  • Dahlia Ambayec-Loyola
  • Manuel Luis Lopez
  • Bernardita Ramos
  • Strike Revilla
  • Xavier Jesus Romualdo
  • Roman Romulo
  • Manuel Sagarbarria
  • Angelina "Helen" Tan
  • Arnulfo Teves, Jr.
  • Gerardo Valmayor
  • Noel Villanueva
  • Victor Yap

Current party officials

  • Leader: Mark Cojuangco
  • President: Jack Duavit
  • Chairman: Tito Sotto
  • Secretary-General: Mark Llandro Mendoza
  • Spokesperson: Mark Enverga
  • Senate President: Francis Escudero

Party leadership history

Chairman

Chairperson Term start Term end
Danding Cojuangco 1991 2009
Faustino Dy Jr. 2009 2013
Tito Sotto 2013 present

See also

References

  1. ^ Guillermo, Artemio R. (2012). Historical dictionary of the Philippines (Third ed.). Scarecrow Press. p. 304.
  2. ^ The Report: Philippines 2015. Oxford Business Group. 2015. p. 21.
  3. ^ Tom Lansford, ed. (2019). Political Handbook of the World 2018-2019. CQ Press. p. 1271.
  4. ^ Dennis W. Johnson, ed. (2010). Routledge Handbook of Political Management. Routledge. p. 361.
  5. ^ Philippines. Facts On File. 1999. p. 887. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  6. ^ Perron, Louis (2009). Election Campaigns in the Philippines. Routledge. p. 361.
  7. ^ Day, Alan John (2002), Political Parties of the World, John Harper Publishing, p. 377
  8. ^ Macaraeg, Pauline (January 27, 2019). "Who to Vote For? Get To Know the Political Parties in the Philippines". Esquiremag.ph. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  9. ^ Arcangel, Xianne (November 15, 2023). "PDP-Laban's membership dwindles, Lakas-CMD now dominant House party". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  10. ^ NPC Party History Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine NPC website Retrieved December 17, 2006.
  11. ^ Romero, Paolo (October 11, 2003). "Lakas-NPC alliance tried and tested — JDV". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  12. ^ "Manila poll winners finally proclaimed". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. May 18, 1995. p. 164. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  13. ^ Maragay, Fei (May 5, 1995). "Maceda conceded defeat – Ramos". news.google.com. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  14. ^ a b c Evangelista, Romie A. "Angara party roots for Danding". Manila Standard Today. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007.
  15. ^ "The Other Brat Pack". The Investigative Reporting Magazine. VI: 10–11. January–March 2000.
  16. ^ a b c "Background Note: Philippines". United States Department of State. December 15, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  17. ^ Danao, Efren (March 15, 2001). "NPC to junk 5 Senate bets from opposition". Philstar.com. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  18. ^ Romero, Paolo (October 24, 2003). "House impeaches Davide". Philstar.com. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  19. ^ Romero, Paolo (November 12, 2003). "House votes 115-77 to junk impeachment". Philstar.com. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  20. ^ a b "'Sunshine Coalition' bubuwagin sa 13th Congress". Philstar.com. June 10, 2004. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  21. ^ Romero, Paolo (November 12, 2003). "JDV belittles bid to unseat him as Speaker". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  22. ^ Samia, Pamela (October 12, 2003). "NPC timetable set for 2004 polls". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  23. ^ Romero, Paolo (October 6, 2003). "NPC rebuffs LDP: No decision on coalition yet". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  24. ^ "'NPC sending mixed signals for 2004'". www.philstar.com. November 16, 2003. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  25. ^ Introduction: Philippines CIA -The World Fact Book Retrieved December 10, 2006.
  26. ^ "Danding Cojuangco and the NPC". images.gmanews.tv. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  27. ^ Romero, Paolo (July 2, 2005). "Palace prefers impeachment to destabilization". Philstar.com. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  28. ^ Diaz, Jess (September 7, 2005). "House votes 158-51 to kill impeachment". Philstar.com. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  29. ^ "Sotto says row with UNO prompted 'defection' to NPC". GMA News Online. January 28, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  30. ^ Mendez, Christina (October 29, 2009). "Escudero quits NPC". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  31. ^ Diaz, Jess (August 8, 2009). "NPC to announce 2010 bets this month". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  32. ^ Calica, Aurea (October 31, 2009). "Villar likely to pick Loren". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  33. ^ Punay, Edu (June 20, 2020). "NPC, House leaders honor Danding". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  34. ^ Gomez, Carla (April 20, 2022). "Sotto: NPC is free zone for choice of president". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  35. ^ Abadilla, Bench (June 5, 2025). "Gentleman's agreement on the table: Chiz Escudero to lead Senate now, Tito Sotto later?". politiko.com.ph. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  36. ^ Ager, Maila (May 21, 2025). "Escudero, Sotto seek Duterte bloc's support for Senate presidency – Go". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  37. ^ "Sotto open to term-sharing for Senate presidency". news.tv5.com.ph. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  38. ^ Magsambol, Bonz (July 28, 2025). "Chiz Escudero elected again as Senate president". RAPPLER. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  39. ^ Flores, Dominique Nicole (September 2, 2025). "Top flood contractor admits P30-million donation to Escudero's campaign but..." Philstar.com. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  40. ^ Abarca, Charie (August 12, 2025). "Escudero denies helping contractor, admits P30M campaign donation". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  41. ^ Tamayo, Bernadette E. (September 9, 2025). "Sotto to lead Senate again as majority votes to oust Escudero". The Manila Times. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  42. ^ Gomez, Carla (April 20, 2022). "Sotto: NPC is free zone for choice of president". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
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