Majority of congressmen belonging to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) prefer Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. over Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. as their presidential candidate in next year’s elections, a stalwart of the NPC said Tuesday.

Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao said Villar is likely to benefit from the sudden resignation of Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero from the NPC, which was supposed to field the latter as standard bearer for the 2010 polls.

But Aggabao admitted that some NPC members are still loyal to Teodoro and are likely to support the candidacy of the administration presidential candidate.

Teodoro used to be a member of the NPC, the political party founded by his uncle, industrialist Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr.

In 2007, Teodoro left the party to join President Arroyo’s Cabinet amid rumors that the billionaire businessman preferred either Escudero or Sen. Loren Legarda over him as NPC presidential candidate.

Asked to confirm reports that Villar is heavily favored by NPC congressmen, Aggabao said: “You assumed correctly although there are some NPC solons that remain loyal to Gibo.”

The support of the majority of NPC congressmen to Villar’s presidential bid is a big boost to his purported tandem with the party’s vice presidential candidate Sen. Loren Legarda, who earlier said the chances of her reconciling with Escudero were slim.