Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero’s senatorial bid has been endorsed by the Bulacan-based Kabalikat Patungo sa Umuunlad na Sistematiko at Organisadong Pangkabuhayan Movement (KAPUSO-PM) Party-list.
In a statement, party-list chairman Rhandell Santos said the political organization is supporting the senatorial candidacy of Escudero because of his track record as a public servant since he started to venture into politics more than two decades ago.
“Taos pusong sinusuportahan ng Kabalikat Patungo sa Umuunlad na Sistematiko at Organisadong Pangkabuhayan Movement (KAPUSO-PM) ang kandidatura sa Senado ni Governor Francis Joseph ‘Chiz’ Escudero. Kami ay naniniwala na si Governor Escudero ay magiging katuwang ng aming samahan sa paggawa ng mga batas na tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng bawat mamayang Filipino,” Santos said.
“Ang walang dungis na track record ni Gov. Escudero bilang lingkod-bayan ay isang patunay na karapat-dapat siyang mahalal sa Senado. Bilang Gobernador, sinimulan niya ang mabilis na pagpapatupad ng mga proyekto sa kalusugan, turismo, agrikultura, imprastraktura, social services at disaster risk management na lubos na nagpabago sa buhay ng mga Sorsoganons,” he added.
The newly-created party-list, which is also participating in the May national elections, is representing both the rural and urban poor whose income are not enough to support their own needs as well as that of their families.
The party-list said the laws put forward by Escudero augur well with its vision to help the marginalized.
“Bilang mambabatas, sinulong nya ang pagsasabatas ng mga gawaing kumakatawan hindi lamang sa pamumunong mapagbago, kundi tumutupad din sa atas ng bayan: Ang tiyakin na ang bawat karapatan ng mga Pilipino ay kinikilala at pinangangalagaan, na mas madaling magkaroon ng mga pagkakataon para sa mga panghinaharap na pag-ani, at ang mga repormang itinatag ay magiging pundasyon para sa tuluy-tuloy na pag-unlad para sa lahat,” the group said.
Escudero, who is seeking a Senate return, said he would focus on giving more autonomy to local government units, ensure the judicious and prudent utilization of the annual budget, and help transition the pandemic-weary economy to recovery, among others, if elected again.
Aside from KAPUSO-PM, Escudero’s senatorial comeback is supported by various party-list groups, including the Ang Probinsyano, Bayaning Tsuper (BTS), Kusog Bikolandia, Ang Kabuhayan, An Waray, ARISE, Agimat, BHW, and Magdalo.
The Federation of Free Farmers, a 200,000-strong non-government organization considered one of the biggest in the country, said it is also endsorsing him.
The tandems of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Kiko Pangilinan; Senator Ping Lacson and Senate President Tito Sotto; and Senator Manny Pacquiao and Rep. Lito Atienza have adopted Escudero, a consistent topnotcher in various independent pre-election surveys, in their senatorial slates.
UniTeam vice-presidential candidate and incumbent Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte and mayors from CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and Eastern Samar, who belong to the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) have likewise endorsed the incumbent leader of Sorsogon.