Manila: Senator Grace Poe said there is nothing definite about her plans to join the Nationalist People’s Coalition as presidential candidate at this time.

“There are no formal talks with the NPC (Nationalist People’s Coalition) yet although during the time when my father [Fernando Poe Jr] ran for President [in 2004], NPC gave him their support,” Poe said.

Earlier, reports surfaced that talks are ongoing between leaders of the NPC and Poe on having her as their presidential candidate in the 2016 polls.

Poe, in an interview at the Senate said while there is nothing definite on plans with the NPC, the only thing sure as of this time is that Senator Francis Escudero would support whatever decision she takes on the matter.

“He [Escudero] told me personally that we would not be running in the same position so that means that we would not running in the elections against each other,” Poe said.

Escudero is a member of the NPC while Poe has so far considered herself an independent candidate.

Being the daughter of Fernando Poe Jr (FPJ), the latter’s immense popularity before the Filipino masses had somehow rubbed off on her.

FPJ, regarded as the ‘King of Philippine Movies’ lost the 2004 presidential elections to Gloria Arroyo by a narrow margin.

Poe, 46, had been topping surveys for the presidency with 10 months left before the country holds its general elections.

Despite perceptions of lack of experience in holding elected public office, on the national level or otherwise, she pulled off an electoral surprise when she emerged top of the list of senators with the most number of votes cast in her favour during the 2013 mid-term elections.

While Grace Poe may be popular, she does not have at this time a strong political machinery that a party like NPC can provide.

NPC was founded by former members of the Nacionalista Party (Nationalist Party) in 1992 and was once led by billionaire Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr.

Its political backbone remains strong with two senators, 47 lawmakers, 14 governors, as well as several mayors being members of the party.

Basing on statements issued by President Benigno Aquino himself, the chief executive had been hoping that Poe, as well as Escudero, would join the Liberal Party.

“We are still hoping. We still want to have that very unified group that will preserve the coalition as much as possible that can ensure the victory of the agenda,” Aquino said during an interview with reporters on Monday.

Aquno is head of the ruling Liberal Party.

On Friday, the President announced that LP has picked Interior Secretary Mar Roxas as its presidential candidate.

Aquino said he remains hopeful of having Poe and Senator Escudero on board the administration ticket for next year’s elections.