Senatorial candidate Sorsogon Governor Francis ‘’Chiz’’ Escudero on Saturday, April 9 said the biggest act of heroism Filipinos could do this year is to participate in the electoral process and exercise their right to vote on May 9.

Escudero said that amid the noise of the political campaign, people should look for leaders who would put the interests of the country above their own, work with integrity, and serve those who have been neglected by government for a long time—the farmers, fisherfolk and micro entrepreneurs.

“Sa araw lamang ng halalan tayo nagkakapantay-pantay—gobernador, bise-gobernador, congressman, tricycle driver, kasambahay, nagtitinda sa palengke, kargador sa palengke, walang trabaho, mayaman o mahirap, babae o lalaki, nakapag-aral o hindi, may itsura o wala (When election day comes, all are equal - governor, vice governor, congressman, household help, market vendor, jobless, rich or poor, man or woman, learned or not, has a figure or not). Pagdating ng eleksyon, pantay-pantay tayo (We are all equal comes election day) Tig-i tig-isa lang tayo ng boto (We all have one vote),” Escudero said.

“Huwag natin sayangin ‘yung pagkakataon na ‘yun (Let us not waste this opportunity). Pumili at piliin kung sino talaga ang nararapat at karapat-dapat (We should vote who is qualified and competent). At hindi natin trabaho husgahan ang ating kapwa dahil iba lamang ang pananaw niya (We should not judge our fellowman because he holds a different point of view),” he said.

The veteran legislator noted how this year’s presidential campaign has divided families and friends because of their overzealous support for their chosen candidates.

Escudero reminded voters that most candidates were friends away from the campaign stage.

Huwag nating pakaseryosohin na dumating sa puntong makakaaway na natin ang ating mga kaibigan, kamag-anak at kapitbahay.... (We should not let things result in our fighting one another). Ulitin ko, hanggang May 9 po lamang ito (I repeat, election day comes on May 9). Sana pagkatapos nito, tingnan natin ang ating mga sarili, hindi bilang Bicolano, Ilocano, Cebuano, Waray, Kapampangan, Batangueño o kung saan man galing—pare-pareho pa rin tayong Pilipino (I hope that at the end of the electoral exercise, we should not look at ourselves as Bicolano, Ilocano, Cebuano, Waray, Pampangenyo, Batangueno but as Filipinos),” he said.

As Filipinos observe Araw ng Kagitingan exactly one month before the elections, Escudero reiterated the obligation of elected leaders to serve all Filipinos, not just their supporters.

“Sa dulo, sinuman ang mananalong pangulo ng bansa, dapat pantay niyang pagsilbihan ang bawat isa sa atin (At the end, whoever wins the presidential race shall treat each of us fairly). Binoto man siya o hindi, sinuportahan man siya o hindi, gusto man siya o minumura siya ngayong panahon ng kampanyahan, dapat pantay niyang pagsilbihan yun (The winner should treat fairly those who supported him or not or those who insulted him during the campaign),” he said.

There are 65.7 million registered voters for the 2022 polls, which is 3.9 million more than those who registered to vote in the 2019 national elections. In addition to this, there are 1.6 million registered overseas Filipino voters.