Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero has received another support for his bid for a fresh six-year term in the Senate, this time from the youth-oriented Nationalist Social-Democratic Society (NSDS).
In a Facebook post, the group said is it endorsing Escudero and 11 other senatorial candidates in its own version of Magic 12 “according to their platforms, academic performance, and track records.”
NSDS also shared its resolution endorsing their preferred presidential and vice-presidential candidates, along with the 12 senatorial bets and one party-list. It was signed by incumbent NSDS officers led by founding chairman and president Juan Diether Bautista.
The NSDS said they believed that the 12 senatorial candidates they are endorsing are “deserving, willing, have integrity, loyalty, excellence, and courage to fight corruption, promote human rights, youth empowerment, sustainable development, and good governance.”
A former senator for 12 years, Escudero said he would focus on giving more autonomy to local government units, ensure the judicious and wise utilization of the annual budget, and help transition the pandemic-weary economy to recovery, among others, if elected again.
The former senator also remains among the top favorites of students to win the senatorial race, according to campus mock polls conducted by at least 36 colleges and universities across the country.
President Duterte has endorsed Escudero’s senatorial bid, saying the governor will play a big role in crafting key pieces of legislation and reforms at a time when the country is besieged with challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor and vice-presidential candidate Sara Duterte-Carpio is personally backing Escudero’s Senate comeback bid.
The tandems of Senator Ping Lacson and Senate President Tito Sotto; Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Kiko Pangilinan; and Senator Manny Pacquiao and Rep. Lito Atienza have adopted Escudero in their senatorial slates.
The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) has also included Escudero in its senatorial bets along with five other candidates.
The former senator is also endorsed by several party-list groups, including Ang Probinsyano, Ang Kabuhayan, Agimat, An Waray, ARISE, BHW, BTS, Kusog Bikolano, KAPUSO-PM, and Uswag Ilonggo.
Mayors from CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and Eastern Samar, who belong to the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), are likewise backing Escudero’s Senate return.
The 200,000-strong Federation of Free Farmers (FFF), one of the biggest non-government organizations in the country, has committed to campaign for Escudero.