More lawmakers back Grace, Chiz

MANILA, Philippines - More lawmakers and party-list groups are coming out to support the tandem of independent presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe and her runningmate Sen. Francis Escudero, a member of Congress said yesterday.

Butil party-list Rep. Agapito Guanlao said he expects more leaders and organizations to express support for Poe and Escudero after 30 lawmakers last week announced they were backing the tandem.

He said some local officials and lawmakers allied with the administration have pledged their support for Poe and Escudero but have withheld announcing it in public for fear of reprisal.

Among the party-list groups that have committed to supporting the candidacies of Poe and Escudero were ACT-CIS, AVE, BUTIL, 1 CARE, Agham, An Waray, ABS, Abang Lingkod, Ang Nars, Anac IP, Ako Bicol, Abono, Abamin, Magdalo, OFW, Senior Citizens, Alay Buhay, Bayan Muna, Gabriela, ACT Teacher and Anak Pawis.

Guanlao said they decided to support the tandem because their regional interests and advocacies are included in the tandem’s platform.

The groups claimed to have gathered at least 10 million votes in the 2013 election and they would encourage their supporters to vote for the tandem.

Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez, Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Seth Frederick Jalosjos, former governor Romeo Jalosjos and former Rep. Cesar Jalosjos, Rep. Ronald Singson and Vice Gov. Jeremy Singson of Ilocos Sur, Rep. Napoleon Dy of Isabela province and other local politician also joined Poe’s camp.

Meanwhile, Poe thanked the party-list lawmakers and local politicians for their support.

When asked about accepting support from politicians who have bad reputations and have pending cases in court, Poe said people who, whether friends or enemies, have committed offenses should be held accountable and face the charges. – With Christina Mendez