News Release
April 12, 2007
LIPA CITY – Gubernatorial bet and incumbent Lipa City Mayor VilmaSantos last night openly endorsed Bayan Muna before a political rallyhere at Plaza Independencia in this city in Batangas province.
In her introduction to Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, Santos described him as her “idol”.
Santos, one the country’s most awarded and most popular movie actors, also that Ocampo is “a man I admire because we now seldom find personswho stand up for their beliefs”.
“‘Yan si Satur Ocampo, may paninindigan,” said Santos. “Suportahannatin siya. Suportahan natin ang Bayan Muna.”
To punctuate her endorsement of Bayan Muna, Santos and her husband reelectionist Sen. Ralph Recto raised Ocampo’s hand before a cheering crowd of about three thousand Batangueos.
In his remarks, Ocampo thanked Santos, Recto and the people ofBatangas for helping Bayan Muna attain the top spot in the 2001 and 2004 elections.
Santos’ endorsement is expected to further the groundswell of supportfor Bayan Muna, whose president and first nominee — Ocampo — hadbeen arrested and detained in connection with a harassment suit in Leyte.
Bayan Muna is expected by the country’s two major polling firms SWS and Pulse Asia to recapture the top spot among partylist aspirants and regain the maximun three seats in the House of Representatives.
Bayan Muna emerged No. 1 in the 2001 and 2004 partylist elections. ###
2007 Elections
