Nationalist Peoples Coalition

Formation

In 1990, amid political and economic uncertainty in the aftermath of the 1986 People Power Revolution, members of civil society and business groups invited businessman Danding Cojuangco, a former associate of deposed President Ferdinand Marcos and estranged cousin of President Corazon Aquino, to lead a national coalition for the 1992 national elections. Cojuangco's supporters, who called themselves Friends of Danding, began organizing because of limited time before the polls.

Cojuangco expressed interest in running under the Nacionalista Party, where he had long-standing ties, provided the nomination process was fair. Two other national figures were also seeking the party nomination, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and Vice President Salvador Laurel, the latter being the party president. Internal disputes arose between Laurel and former Rizal Governor Isidro Rodriguez, who supported Cojuangco, over the nomination rules. With the issues unresolved and the party divided, Cojuangco's backers formed a new party, Partido Pilipino, led by Fernando Barican, Antonio Gatmaitan, and Butch Valdes. The Commission on Elections officially registered the party on February 5, 1991.

The Nacionalistas eventually split into the Laurel and Rodriguez wings, with the latter supporting Cojuangco. A court ruling in favor of the Laurel wing prompted Cojuangco's allies to consolidate under a broader umbrella group, the Nationalist People's Coalition. This coalition included the Rodriguez wing, Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, Partido Pilipino and its regional parties such as Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija, sectoral groups, and independent politicians backing Cojuangco.

Ramos administration

Estrada administration

The NPC coalesced with Angara's LDP, Estrada's PMP, and the PDP–Laban of former senator Nene Pimentel, to form Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino for the 1998 national elections. LAMMP served as the political vehicle of Vice President Estrada in that year's presidential election.^[14] In the House elections, some youngster politicians who were elected into Congress under LAMMP were dubbed as the Bright Boys, including NPC-affiliated neophyte congressmen Francis Escudero, Gilbert Teodoro and Ace Durano.^[15]

Following the juetenggate scandal in October 2000, House Speaker Manny Villar of LAMMP successfully presided over the impeachment of President Estrada in the House plenary. The pro-Estrada group ousted Villar from office and tapped Arnulfo Fuentebella as his replacement, making this the only time when a current NPC member held the House speakership. The NPC left the rapidly disintegrating LAMMP after Estrada was removed from power in January 2001.^[14]

Arroyo administration

When Gloria Macapagal Arroyo assumed the presidency in January 2001, her Lakas–CMD-led People Power Coalition became the dominant group in Congress.^[16] The 75-member ruling party led the "Sunshine Coalition," which included the 61-member NPC, members of the Liberal Party, and several other minor parties,^[16] while the LDP led the 20-member opposition bloc.^[16] Having no candidate for the 2001 Senate election, the NPC junked five opposition candidates from Puwersa ng Masa, namely National Defense Secretary Orly Mercado, former Social Welfare and Development undersecretary Jamby Madrigal, Muslim Mindanao leader Ombra Tamano, former senator Santanina Rasul, and former Information undersecretary Reuben Canoy.^[17]

In 2003, NPC stalwarts led by Escudero and Teodoro filed an impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. for allegedly misusing judiciary funds for acquiring luxury cars and homes. However, the complaint, despite successfully gaining enough signatures to proceed,^[18] was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.^[19] Rumors speculated that the coalition would be abolished, as pro-impeachment congressmen, mainly from the NPC, were disappointed with the failure of Davide's impeachment,^[20] as well as that there emerged a faction lacking satisfaction over the leadership of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.^[20][21] Some party members prompted the NPC to quit the ruling coalition ahead of the 2004 national elections^[22] and join the opposition, to no avail.^[23]

In 2003, the NPC and LDP backed party founder Cojuangco as a potential contender for the 2004 presidential election.^[14] However, Cojuangco, the NPC chairperson, decided not to run for the second time. Before the end of the year, the NPC was sending mixed signals on whether to stay on the administration camp or jump into the opposition.^[24] Although the NPC had no seats in the Senate, the party had 53 seats in the House of Representatives that time.^[25] Eventually, the NPC was divided, with Cojuangco, his sons Charlie and Mark, and nephew Teodoro supporting incumbent President Arroyo's full-term bid, while the other faction led by Escudero, Maceda and Darlene Antonino Custodio supported opposition bet Fernando Poe Jr. of Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino. Escudero, who became Poe's spokesperson, berated the Arroyo administration for alleged widespread cheating and vehemently protested in the congressional canvassing of presidential votes.^[26]

Aquino and Marcos Jr. administrations

With Senator Tito Sotto's assumption as party chairman, the NPC forged an alliance with the administration coalition Team PNoy. However, Sotto chose to side with Vice President Binay's UNA, with Cagayan Representative Jack Enrile as one of its senatorial candidates.

After Cojuangco's death in 2020,^[33] the NPC supported the vice presidential campaign of party chairman Sotto. Meanwhile, in the presidential race, majority of voters who supported Sotto preferred former senator Bongbong Marcos, instead of Senator Panfilo Lacson, who was Sotto's running mate.^[34] Sotto ultimately lost to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, Marcos' running mate under UniTeam.

2007 election

In the 2007 elections, the party won 26 seats:

2010

2013

Senate:

• Loren Legarda – guest candidate from Liberal Party/Team PNoy (won)
• Jack Enrile – guest candidate from Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino/United Nationalist Alliance (lost)
• Edward Hagedorn – independent (lost)

2016

• President: Grace Poe (lost)
• Vice President: Francis Escudero (lost)

Senate:

• Win Gatchalian (won)
• Tito Sotto (won)

2019

Senate:

• Jinggoy Estrada (guest candidate, lost)
• JV Ejercito (lost)
• Lito Lapid (won)
• Imee Marcos (guest candidate, won)
• Grace Poe (guest candidate, won)
• Bong Revilla (guest candidate, won)

2022

Vice President: Tito Sotto (lost)

Senate:

• Herbert Bautista (lost)
• Win Gatchalian (won)
• Loren Legarda (won)
• Francis Escudero (won)
• JV Ejercito (won)
• Manny Piñol (lost)

2025

Senate:

• Abby Binay (lost)
• Tito Sotto (won)
• Lito Lapid (won)
• Panfilo Lacson (won) (Guest candidate albeit running Independent)

Presidential and vice presidential elections

Legislative elections

20th Congress (2025–present)

Chairman

Chairperson		Term start	Term end
	Danding Cojuangco	1991	2009
	Faustino Dy Jr.	2009	2013
	Tito Sotto	2013	present