Poe, Escudero endorse Colmenares as first member of senatorial slate

The newly-formed team up of Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero endorsed on Wednesday its first senatorial bet for 2016.

Poe and Escudero both endorsed Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares’ senatorial bid during the 3rd National Convention of the Makabayan bloc, a progressive coalition, held at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.

“Karangalan ko po na ma-endorso si Congressman Neri Colmenares at karangalan din po namin ni Sen Chiz ang magkaroon at makuha ang tiwala ng Makabayan na tunay na Pilipino at nagmamahal sa bansa,” Poe said in a speech before the jam-packed crowd at the complex.

She noted she and Colmenares had been together in many issues, including the proposed  Freedom of Information bill.

When she and Escudero ran together under the Liberal Party-led coalition in 2013, Poe said, the Makabayan bloc was also the first to endorse them.

“Hindi ko rin po kayo makakalimutan sapagkat noong pumanaw ang aking ama at tila nawalan na kami ng pag-asa para mailabas ang hustisya, hindi kayo bumitaw at kasama namin kayo sa lansangan halos linggo-linggo,”  she said, referring to her late father, actor Fernando Poe Jr., who ran and lost in the 2004 presidential race.

Colmenares was the first senatorial bet that the two senators have, so far, endorsed since they formally declared their political plans for the 2016 elections.

After Poe’s speech, the Makabayan bloc formally endorsed the senatorial bid of Colmenares.

Before this, Escudero also threw his support behind Colmenares, saying he was with the coalition in ensuring that Colmenares would be elected to the Senate.

“Sana pagpasok ni Congressman Neri sa Senado sa 2016, hindi na po kami magkita roon,” he said in jest.

If elected vice president next year, Escudero need not to finish his term, which will expire in 2019. JE

Originally posted at 5:47 PM.