Venus Emperado Apas, one of the nominees of ipaTUPAD for Workers, Inc. Party-list, has defended actor Robin Padilla who is one of the front-runners in the senatorial race for the May 9 national elections.
During a press conference with the entertainment press at Metrowalk in Ortigas, Pasig City recently, Apas urged critics to give Robin a chance.
"Akala kasi nila porke't artista walang alam. Sana bigyan muna nila ng chance si Robin na maipakita niya yung kakayahan niya sa larangan ng pulitika. Matagal ko ng kaibigan si Robin. I must say sincere siya sa kanyang pagtakbo sa Senado," Apas said.
Recently, Robin trended on social medial after he placed third in the Pulse Asia survey.
The action star received a 47.3 percent voter preference in the survey conducted from Feb. 18-23. Some netizens couldn't believe that Robin placed high in the survey.
ipaTUPAD for Workers, Inc. Party-list is an organization of working-class citizens who intend to cooperate, collaborate, and be unified in solving labor issues by creating programs for employees and their families.
It took its inspiration from the government's TUPAD or the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers, a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers.
Should ipaTUPAD (#37) win the national election, Apas vowed to assist the 15,000 freelance artists and cultural workers who were displaced during the pandemic.
"Sana ay makatuwang natin ang mga kilallang personalidad sa sining at kultura pati na rin sa creative industry para makabuo tayo ng isang panukalang batas na hindi lamang magbibigay ng kasiguraduhan sa trabaho kundi magsasaayos din ng benepisyo, insensitibo at karampatang pagkilala sa mga alagad ng sining at manggagawa sa kultura," added Apas.
Aside from Robin, ipaTUPAD is being endorsed by President Duterte, actors Eric Quizon and Coleen Garcia; Rep. Loren Legarda, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., former Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro and former Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar.