BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Some members of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in Negros Occidental who are supporting the presidential bid of former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II are asking that the province be declared as “zona libre” (free zone) should the party leadership decide to endorse another candidate.
Kabankalan City Mayor Isidro Zayco, NPC provincial chairman, has declared his support for Roxas even if the party has yet to announce its bet.
Zayco, who is also a former governor, said some of the party members in the province want to exercise their free will on who to support for president in 2016.
He said he will ask the national leadership to make the province a free zone if NPC will not support the standard-bearer of the Liberal Party.
Roxas' mother is from Negros Occidental.
Zayco said that there are other NPC members in Negros Oriental who also want their province to be declared a free zone, especially those in the second congressional district, represented by congressman George Arnaiz. They are also supporting Roxas' bid.
“We will ask permission to declare a zona libre in the province. In Negros Oriental, there are also mayors under the NPC who support Mar, we will ask permission for our locality,” Zayco said.
He said that he is for Roxas because the latter is instrumental in creating the Negros Island Region. “He helped in the creation of the new region. He is not involved in any corruption issues and his mother (Judy Araneta-Roxas) hailed from Bago City.”
Earlier, Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who is also an NPC member, said that he would still support Roxas even if his party chooses another presidential candidate.
“That is why I said it is premature to react on the pronouncement of Senator Tito Sotto about cracking the whip. I’m hoping also that NPC will endorse Secretary Mar,” he said.
The vice governor said that NPC chairman emeritus Eduardo “Danding” Conjuangco Jr had always given them a choice on who to support for president. “As I've said in the previous elections, we were allowed to support our choice for president,” he added.
Lacson said that he is for Roxas because the latter is competent and has integrity.
The NPC national leadership has been hosting meetings between known presidential aspirants and party members from the major island groups. They have so far met with Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Grace Poe, and Roxas. They are also inviting Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. – Rappler.com