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The resignation of Sen. Francis ?Chiz? Escudero will trigger a dilemma on who to support for president in 2010.
?There is no one else in the party who is seeking the post of president,? said Tourism Secretary Joseph ?Ace? Durano, a stalwart of the Nationalist Peoples Coalition (NPC).
Durano said the most logical thing to do is for NPC to form a coalition with another party.
He said there were ?exploratory talks? between NPC, Liberal Party, the Nacionalista Party and the Lakas-Kampi party for a possible coalition.
Another option is for NPC to allow its members to support their presidential candidate of choice.
Durano said NPC members were surprised at Escudero?s announcement to resign from his post.
He said he knew that Escudero was to make an announcement yesterday.
But he said he was expecting him to announce his bid for the presidency.
An emergency meeting was convened by NPC leaders after Escudero?s announcement.
He said he was invited to the meeting but he only sent a representative because he had another commitment to attend to.
A general membership meeting might be called in the next few days to brief NPC members on the reason for Escudero's resignation.
?I would like to reserve my judgment until he explains to members why he resigned,? Durano said.
?I will have wait for the NPC decision on that. I also want to know which slate I will fall under if I run,? he added.
Durano said that if the party would decide to allow NPC members to support their choice of presidential candidates, he would have a problem because Sen. Manuel Villar and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro were both his good friends.
?I would not do anything that will destroy my friendship with them,? said Durano.
Durano said that he wanted to know the platforms and priorities of the presidential candidates so that he will be guided in the selection of his presidential candidate.
