Acedillo defends jailed senator

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City north district congressional candidate Francisco Acedillo defended Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV saying that despite his imprisonment, the senator continues to do his responsibility. 

According to Acedillo, although Trillanes has never set foot on the Senate floor, among the 23 senators he is the sixth most productive legislator who passed 231 bills to law, and still working on the pending bills and senate resolutions.

Moreover, the national spokesman of the Magdalo Group also clarified that Trillanes has not received his pork barrel for the last three years.

“Bisan naa siya’s prisohan, padayun ra japun sya’ng nagtrabaho,” Acedillo added.

Acedillo added that he is supporting the plan of Trillanes to abolish the National Disaster Coordinating Council which only releases funds if there are disasters.

Trillanes suggested forming the Emergency Management Agency to replace the NDCC.

“Ang pagpangandam sa disaster is a long-term effort,” he said.

Regarding his own candidacy, Acedillo admitted he is still catching up to his rivals.

“I’m in catch-up mode pa, nagpadayon og apas sa kaatbang… if we have inferior resources, mamawi ta’s superior strategy but the problem is, wala kaila ang mga tawo nako ug usa pa, wala pud ko’y mga TV ads,” he shared.

Therefore, Acedillo said that it is now his responsibility to reach the people and convince them, especially the undecided voters.

He also said he sees hope of winning the election because according to him, 60 percent of the voters are still undecided.

“Naa’y three out of five, nindot gyud sila’g pagdawat… mo-ingon sila nga Magdalo ni, maayo ni kay mosukol gyud,” Acedillo said.

Acedillo also challenged his rivals to live up to their campaign promises.

“Kung usa ka pulitiko nagsaad, how far will they go with their promise? Who among them will continually lay down lives for the service of the people?” he said, addressing to the politicians who are only good in leaving promises during elections. 

On the other matter, Acedillo disclosed that he will not support the alleged change of the government from the presidential to parliamentary.

“The problem is not with the form of government, but it is with the kind of politics we practice here. We should rather push a two-form system,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, he is also calling the people to stop voting the politicians from the same family.

“This is going back to educating our voters…I don’t want to take this personally, but this is a very irresponsible act,” he added.