Senatorial candidate Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Tuesday assured presidential candidate and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago of his commitment to fight corruption in the government by championing good governance as “malasakit” (compassion) to Filipinos who have been frustrated by broken promises of genuine reforms.
“My anti-corruption campaign is my strong commitment to further promote transparency and accountability in the government,” said Romualdez after Defensor-Santiago and her running mate Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. endorsed him and nine other senatorial candidates in a two-hour event on Sunday night in Pasig City organized by the Youth for Miriam volunteers group.
Other candidates endorsed include former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general Joel Villanueva, overseas Filipino worker advocate Susan Ople, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, former Armed Forces Chief of Staff Dionisio Santiago, former Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino, reelectionist Senator Ralph Recto, actor-host Edu Manzano and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.
Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the Philippine Constitution Association, thanked Santiago and his first-cousin Marcos for the statement of endorsement to his senatorial bid and for believing on his ability and leadership as senatorial candidate who can contribute for the betterment of the country.
“I am deeply humbled and honored for the support to us by Senator Defensor-Santiago and Senator Marcos,” Romualdez, head of the House Independent Bloc and a three-term congressman who is running for the Senate under a platform anchored on compassionate governance, said.
Aside from Santiago, Romualdez’s senatorial bid was also backed by Partido Galing at Puso presidential candidate and Senator Grace Poe even if the Leyte congressman was not included in the PGP’s official senatorial lineup, assuring her that he would push the return of “malasakit” (compassion) to public service.
Romualdez thanked Poe’s “virtual endorsement” as the lady senator said she would have also wanted the congressman’s inclusion in her senatorial lineup.
But Poe said Romualdez came late to her, adding that other groups had already included Romualdez in their Senate slate.
Poe, who is pushing for unification, said Romualdez is an intelligent candidate after having a chance to talk to him and lauded his advocacies for the people, asking the public to support someone like Romualdez who hails from Eastern Visayas.
Similarly, Romualdez’s senatorial bid was endorsed by Vice President Jejomar Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who are both running for president.
Both Binay and Duterte expressed belief that Romualdez will be a great asset in the Senate, as he has been an accomplished congressman who has authored several measures that promote the rights and welfare of the Filipino people, especially the underprivileged sector.
