The One Bangsamoro Movement (1BANGSA), an alliance of multisectoral organizations based in Mindanao, is supporting the Senate comeback bid of incumbent Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero because of his legislative agenda seeking to improve the plight of the Filipino people.
In a statement posted on its official Facebook page on the occasion of Eid’ul Fitr, 1BANGSA unveiled its list of 12 senatorial candidates, including Escudero, that it would support in the May 9 voting.
The one-million-strong 1BANGSA described Escudero, along with two other former senators seeking a Senate return, as “very collaborative in terms of pursuing legislative agenda for the Muslim Filipinos”.
According to 1BANGSA National President Alan Amerbalangi, their movement composed of youth and students, women, Muslim scholars, Arabic teachers, sultanate, and Muslim traders has banded to form the One Bangsamoro Solidarity Alliance to have a “one command vote” supporting candidates “who have shown love and compassion for the Filipino Muslim minority and the peace process”.
“If there is Solid North in Northern Luzon and One Cebu in the Visayas, there is also 1Bangsamoro people inside and outside of BARMM territory.”
“If there is Solid North in Northern Luzon and One Cebu in the Visayas, there is also 1Bangsamoro people inside and outside of BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) territory,” Amerbalangi said.
Escudero, if elected senator, has vowed to 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.
The Sorsogon governor remains one of the leading candidates according to the various pre-election surveys, including the polls conducted by Publicus Asia where he was No. 1 with 46.8 percent of the 1,500 respondents saying they would vote for the veteran legislator if polls were held during the survey period.
“Escudero 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.”
President Rodrigo 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 the list of six senatorial bets it is endorsing for the May 9 voting, while 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 supporting his Senate return.
He is also endorsed by several party-list groups, including Ang Probinsyano, Ang Kabuhayan, Agimat, An Waray, ARISE, BHW, Kusog Bikolano, KAPUSO-PM, Makabayan and Uswag Ilonggo, as well as the youth-oriented group Nationalist Social-Democratic Society.
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.
Escudero has been a consistent favorite among student respondents as indicated by surveys and mock elections conducted in 38 colleges and universities around the country.
