MANILA, Aug. 20 (PNA) — A big chunk of Party-list group in the House of Representatives is supportive of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas in the 2016 presidential elections.
Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe said the remaining members are divided between Vice President Jejomar Bimay and Senator Grace Poe and there are a few members who are still undecided.
With this, the group decided to allow members to make their own choice whom to support after learning that the reason is they are committed to a particular person or political party.
“They are free to decide whom to support. Some of the party members are already committed to a particular candidate or political party,” Batocabe said.
The spokesperson of the Party-list said they tried to talk to the 47 members to have a unified stand on whom to support this coming elections but because of the prior commitments, they cannot abandon the person or the political party they vowed to support.
Batocabe said the only thing they have agreed is to support members who are interested to seek a Senate seat.
For now, only ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Samuel Pagdilao openly admitted that he is interested to run as senator.
“If there is anyone who will change his/her mind and decide to seek a Senate seat, the candidate can expect the full support of the group,” Batocabe assured members.
When asked by reporters why they are not considering BUHAY Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, the group’s spokesman simply claimed that the former Manila mayor is not their member. Atienza belongs to the Independent Minority Bloc headed by Leyte Rep, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. (PNA)