Party-list coalition backs Poe

Poe

Bacolod City — A party-list coalition yesterday formally endorsed the candidates of Partido Galing at Puso led by its presidential bet Sen. Grace Poe.

In a show of force, representatives and members of various party-list groups declared their support for Poe’s team at L’Fisher Hotel here.

“[T]here are more than 30 members (in the) party-list coalition sitting in Congress who pledge and commit their support to Galing at Puso of Senator Poe,” said Butil Rep. Agapito Guanlao.

Apart from Butil, Guanlao enumerated the other party-list groups supporting Poe’s team, such as ICARE, Agham, Anwaray, ABS, Abang Lingkod, Ang Nars, ANAC IP, Ang Bicol, ABono, Abamin, Magdalo, OFW, Senior Citizens, Alay Buhay and the Makabayan bloc composed of Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Act Teachers and Anak Pawis.

Guanlao said the coalition hoped to deliver 10 million votes for the team based on the estimated votes they received in the 2013 elections.

Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson and former Liberal Party member Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez have also declared their support for Poe and her running mate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

The Liberal Party (LP) yesterday said Benitez was eyeing to become House Speaker under a Grace Poe administration after he declared his support for Poe and Escudero.

“We really expect Albee Benitez as early as last year (to support Poe). I heard that he was eyeing the speakership under a Poe administration,  besides there is a local dispute, since Governor (Alfredo) Marañon is supporting Mar (Roxas) who is not in good terms with Cong Albee,” Caloocan Rep. and LP chairman for political affairs Rep. Edgar Erice said.

Benitez is the fourth richest member of Congress and former Liberal Party chair in the province.

“We need new blood to lead this country,” he said during a sortie of Poe and Escudero in Bacolod.