An administration ally cited Saturday the possibility of a coalition between the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) following the failure of Senator Loren Legarda to name her running mate when she declared Friday that she is seeking the vice presidency.

Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II said the failure of Legarda to identify his running mate could indicate that there is such possibility.

“It fanned the flames na the possibility is there [that Lakas and NPC] will coalesce,” he said.

After announcing her decision to run for vice president in a rally in Luneta, Manila, Legarda told the media that she will be running under the NPC.

The possible coalition would not require Legarda to abandon the NPC in the event that she runs alongside Teodoro, the ruling party’s standardbearer.

“It happened before sa NPC. This is not a new thing sa NPC. May time yan na pag wala kaming tumatakbo sa NPC na presidentiable, they are free to choose the president whom they like to support. If you’re going to say na hindi mangyayari sa NPC yan, no, nangyari na nga, eh. It could happen again because it happened before,” Gonzales said of the possible coalition.

He noted that in the event that Senator Francis Escudero decides to abandon his plans to run for president, NPC could coalesce with Lakas, with Legarda as the vice presidential bet.

Gonzales said some members of the NPC are pushing for the coalition because they like to support Teodoro. The efforts, he said, could owe to the fact that Teodoro is their former colleague, and a nephew of businessman Danding Cojuangco, chairman of NPC.

“Gusto nila si Gilbert. Some of them are making a move to coalesce with administration by making Loren as the possible runningmate the Loren. So yon, if you will notice, si Loren kahapon, while she declared that she is running for the number two post, and at the same breath declaring that she is with NPC, what could have prevented her in stating that she is running together with Chiz? There you get it.,” he said.

Gonzales said Legarda would certainly be welcome to the ruling party should the coalition pushes through.