Former Speaker Noli Fuentebella dies

Former Speaker, Arnulfo “Noli” Fuentebella died on Wednesday, September 9, after a two-year battle with kidney disease.

He was 74.

Camarines Sur 4th District Representative Arnulf Bryan “Arnie” Fuentebella announced his father’s death in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

“With deep sorrow, we would like to inform our family and friends that former Speaker Arnulfo ‘Noli’ P. Fuentebella has passed away this morning, September 9, 2020,” the congressman said.

“He succumbed to heart failure after battling kidney disease for almost two years,” he added.

Fuentebella was elected Speaker in November 2000, following the ouster of then-Las Piñas representative Manuel Villar.

Fuentebella held the top House post for just over two months, as he himself was ousted in another House coup in 2001, which installed Quezon City congressman Feliciano Belmonte as the new House leader.

Fuentebella served as Camarines Sur congressman from 1992 to 2001, succeeded by son Felix William “Wimpy” Fuentebella for one term (2001 to 2004), before returning to serve 3 consecutive terms again from 2004 to 2013.

After Wimpy’s term as congressman from 2013 to 2016, Fuentebella returned to the House in 2016. His other son, Arnie is the incumbent congressman of Camarines Sur’s 4th District. – Rappler.com