Poe, Chiz endorse Senate bid of Bayan Muna’s Colmenares

Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero on Wednesday endorsed Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares as the first member of the senatorial slate they will field in the 2016 elections.

They separately expressed their support for Colmenares'senatorial bid at the Makabayan coalition's national convention held at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.

In endorsing Colmenares, Poe said that she had worked with Colmenares in pushing for several advocacies, such as the passage of the proposed Freedom of Information Law, and the provision of free meals to school children.

"Karangalan ko po na ma-endorso si Congressman Neri Colmenares, at karangalan din namin ni Sen. Chiz na magkaroon at makuha ang tiwala ng Makabayan na tunay na mga Pilipinong nagmamahal sa bansa," she told a cheering crowd composed mostly of members of the progressive organizations belonging to the Makabayan coalition.
 
Poe said that the coalition had been quick to endorse her and Escudero when they ran for senator in 2013.

Following her speech, the 11-group coalition approved a resolution naming Colmenares as the Makabayan's official senatorial candidate in the upcoming elections.

Escudero, who served as the district representative of Sorsogon for nine years before becoming a senator, vouched for Colmenares' integrity and competence in a separate speech.

"Napatunayan kong siya ay may prinsipyo, dangal, at tunay na kagustuhang baguhin ang bansa," Escudero said of Colmenares.

In jest, the senator said he is hoping that he will no longer be around in the Senate should Colmenares win as a senator next year.

"Sana pagpasok ni Neri sa Senado sa 2016, wala na ako doon," he said.

Escudero will not serve out the remaining three years of his term should he win as vice president.

At the sidelines of the convention, Poe told reporters she is uncertain if her camp will be able to field a 12-member senatorial slate.

"Di ko sigurado kung makukumpleto natin. Basta ang importante, kung sinuman ang kasama natin, pareho ng ating ipinaglalaban-- ang ikabubuti ng bayan. Makumpleto man o hindi, ang basehan ng ating pagpili ay kung ano ang kanilang maiaambag sa ating mga kababayan," she said. —NB, GMA News