CANDABA -- Mayor Jerry Pelayo said Tuesday that he is supporting Fourth District Board Member Ricardo Yabut's congressional bid.

Yabut said Pelayo will be "in a better fighting stance" to unseat incumbent Fourth District Representative Anna York Bondoc-Sagum.

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"Yabut has a fighting chance of unseating Bondoc," Pelayo told Sun.Star Pampanga.

He said Yabut's mass base and popularity in fourth district towns would be his advantage over any congressional hopeful here.

"Yabut has been elected to office already and has proven that he can acquire the trust of the people. His popularity with the common tao is also a great advantage in the coming elections," Pelayo said.

The mayor said he prefers Yabut over former Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) assistant secretary Rene Maglangque, who recently declared his intention to run for congressman in the Fourth District.

"There should only be one common candidate and I am in support of Yabut. Other candidates should look honestly on their own winnability, logistics and support from the people. Yabut has own his place in local politics," he said.

Yabut, for his part, thanked Pelayo for his support. He said that he was contacted by a local official, who he refused to name, and asked him to become a member of Liberal Party and be the party's congressional candidate in the district.

"I have not decided on that offer and I am still studying all my battle plans this coming election," he added. (Ian Ocampo Flora)