Actor’s rival celebrates win in CamSur district

“To God be the glory,” was all Felix William “Wimpy” Fuentebella could say when proclaimed winner in the highly emotional congressional election for the fourth district of Camarines Sur.

Fuentebella will follow the footsteps of his father, outgoing Deputy Speaker Arnulfo “Noli” Fuentebella, for the second time.

He is the third member of one of the country’s oldest political clans to occupy the seat.  His father has served the maximum three consecutive terms in the same seat. His grandfather, Don Mariano Fuentebella, was former gobernadorcillo of Sangay town and governor of Ambos, Camarines, during the American regime before becoming congressman of the province.

This tradition of government service was passed on to his (grandfather’s) children and grandchildren, Fuentebella said.

In his first run for Congress in 2001 at the age of 26, the young Fuentebella beat his older rival by a margin of more than 20,000 votes to become the youngest member, or the “Benjamin,” in the 12th Congress in the House of Representatives.

Fuentebella thanked his political team’s leaders and supporters for a well-organized campaign that pounded his rival, movie actor Aga Muhlach.

“I commend the people of Tigaon’s firm commitment to having peaceful elections despite all the provocation from misinformed parties,” Fuentebella said.

“Indeed, God’s hand was there, guiding us and protecting us,” he added.

Political leaders of Partido, the local party of the Fuentebellas, supported the young Fuentebella for socioeconomic development in the district and the province to continue.