Actor Richard Gomez will be running for senator under the administration’s unity ticket, Gomez himself said in a phone interview.
Gomez said he would take his oath next week as a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), an ally of the administration coalition.
“I’ll be with NPC, and I will run for senator under the unity ticket and not with the opposition,” he said.
Gomez said he was invited by the NPC, led by businessman tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr., and after a talk with them, the actor said he agreed to join the party.
The actor clarified that he would not be joining the group of House Minority Floor Leader Francis Escudero, also a member of the NPC but who is identified with the opposition.
“I’m not running with the opposition. I would like to run with the administration,” Gomez stressed.
By joining the NPC, the actor said he did not leave anyone since he was never allied with any political group.
“I was never with their party,” Gomez said, referring to the United Opposition, “I never joined any political group.”
Gomez said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was happy with his decision to join her government.