At least one member of the Nationalist People鈥檚 Coalition (NPC) vowed to support the presidential bid of Vice President Jejomar Binay, veering away from the official endorsement of the party on Sen. Grace Poe.
In a statement聽on Monday, Camarines Sur Rep. Felix William 鈥淲impy鈥� Fuentebella said he is a member of the NPC, however, he would support Binay鈥檚 presidential bid.
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鈥淚 am a member of the NPC supporting VP Jojo Binay for President. I, with the other NPC members in Camarines Sur, informed the leadership of the NPC about this decision,鈥� Fuentebella said.
Fuentebella said he supports Binay for the latter鈥檚 extensive experience as Makati mayor in giving free social services to the poor.
Furthermore, he cited the vice president鈥檚 position in scrapping the income tax for individuals earning P30,000 and below monthly and his promise to improve the dole out Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program.
READ: Binay vows to scrap income tax for those earning P30,000 and below
鈥淥ur constituents were rightfully consulted in arriving at this decision. Our local leaders are inspired by Binay鈥檚 programs for health, education and the senior citizens. His proposal to abolish the income tax for the P30,000 monthly earners and commitment to improve and expand the 4Ps to include the senior citizens are close to the hearts of our constituents,鈥� Fuentebella said.
Fuentebella also cited Binay鈥檚 track record as an elected official and a human rights lawyer under the administration of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
鈥淲e want Binay to become President. That鈥檚 the clamor on our end and I am sure that the leadership of the NPC will hold that in high regard,鈥� he said.
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鈥淎s a member of the NPC, I will reiterate this position,鈥� he added.
Fuentebella is a member of the powerful political dynasty in Camarines Sur, which has ruled for over a hundred years. He is the son of former House Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella, who聽served as congressman from 1992 to 2001 and from 2004 to 2010.
Aside from Fuentebella, former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco, the son of NPC Chairman Emeritus and businessman Eduardo 鈥淒angding鈥� Cojuangco, is also rooting for Binay in the upcoming elections in May. The Cojuangco patriarch heads the San Miguel Corporation.
It was the younger Cojuangco who lobbied for Binay at a meeting between NPC and the vice president last Sept. 2015. He is gunning for the gubernatorial seat this year.
The NPC is the second largest political party in Congress next to President Benigno Aquino III鈥檚 Liberal Party. It has two senators, some 40 House of Representatives members, 22 city mayors and 14 provincial governors.
Binay is the front-runner in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, however, he saw his lead cut down.
According to the latest SWS survey conducted from Feb. 5 to 7 among 1,200 respondents, Binay鈥檚 survey ratings dipped to 29 percent from 31 percent in January. Meanwhile, Poe and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte are statistically tied at 24 percent. RAM