THE Visayas bloc has failed to reach a consensus to back the presidential bid of Senator Grace Poe of the Partido Galing at Puso as the 42 administration lawmakers were split and preferred other candidates, the bloc’s leader said Sunday.
That resulted in the Poe camp losing the Visayas bloc as its campaign machinery, said bloc leader and Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Albee Benitez.
Benitez, who had a falling out with ruling Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II, was asked by his peers not to endorse Poe’s candidacy, said a source who requested anonymity.
“After several emotionally charged meetings, we have failed to reach a consensus to endorse Poe,” the source said.
“She failed to muster enough votes that would merit a unanimous endorsement, a solid support that would make the bloc bankroll her bid. We were split, and so we cannot make a public declaration.”
The source said it was a major setback for Poe, who is running as an independent and who does not have a solid machinery to make her win the presidential race.
Reelectionists Senate President Franklin Drilon and Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas were active in campaigning for Roxas among the bloc’s members, while Cebu Reps. Gwen Garcia and Benhur Salimbangon made it known that they were for Vice President Jejomar Binay, the standard bearer of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance, the source said.
The source said the bloc’s decision meant that Poe and her running mate and fellow Senator Francis Escudero could not maximize the use of the bloc’s resources and machinery.
Most of the congressmen from the Visayas rank among the top 20 richest in the 292-member House of Representatives. Most of them are either businessmen or hacienderos.
However, individual members like Benitez, who is the third-richest congressman after world boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel ‘‘Manny’’ Pacquiao, and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. may opt to bankroll the Poe-Escudero campaign.
“But those who want to support Grace will not necessarily support Chiz [Escudero],” the source said.
“Most members are in fact leaning towards supporting Senator [Ferdinand] Bongbong Marcos Jr., albeit quietly.”
The source said the Visayas bloc was wary of a possible “disintegration” of the regional alliance once they made public their position.
In fact, the source said, there was an ongoing tug-of-war between Poe and Roxas in bagging the group’s endorsement.
“It is for this reason that the 42-member bloc headed by Albee Benitez decided to keep quiet than make a public announcement of its presidential bet for May 9,” the source said.
“The Visayas bloc won’t make a public declaration. We don’t want the bloc to disintegrate.”
The regional grouping was earlier this month has shaken by Benitez’s pronouncement that he would be backing Poe.
Benitez formerly held the position of LP regional president. He is now an independent like foundling candidate Poe.
Benitez bolted the ruling administration party after Roxas’ camp allegedly fielded opponents against him and his mayor-allies.
“While the mayors in Negros Occidental wanted to remain with the party and support Mar, they could not do so in deference to Albee, who funded their candidacies and made them win in the previous election,” the source said.
He said the Visayas mayors were grateful to Roxas, who made possible the inclusion of the Negros Island Region to make it comprise Region 18.
“It was an uphill battle in Congress to create the NIR, but Mar helped us with the administration lawmakers who comprise the majority in the House and Senate,” the source said.
He said the NIR had become competitive and had its own regional offices, where the transactions with the government became smoother and easier.
“We used to cross the island to Cebu so we can transact business. Now we have our own regional offices,” the source said.
“Where does that leave Poe? She has yet to prove something. She has no track record to speak of in the first place.”
The LP, led by President Benigno Aquino III, remains the largest political party in the country.
“Many are doing the groundwork for Poe, but there are places they won’t be able to penetrate like Iloilo, where she claims she hails from, because you have Congressman Jerry Treñas and Drilon there for Mar. In Cebu, there is Gwen and Salimbangon for VP Binay,” the source said.