MANILA - The Magdalo group led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has endorsed the planned bid for the presidency of Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero in the 2010 national elections, the group announced Sunday.

The group which is currently seeking accreditation as a new political party, endorsed Escudero, as well as the senatorial bids of detained Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Marines Col. Ariel Querubin, during a national convention at the University of the Philippines in Diliman.

Aside from the political bids of the Escudero, Lim, and Querubin, they are also endorsing the candidacies of 4 detained Magdalo leaders who are planning to run for local positions in the coming elections.

They are detained Navy Lt. Sr. Grade James Layug (bid to represent the 2nd district of Taguig City in the House of Representatives), former Air Force 1Lt. Francisco Ashely Acedillo (2nd district, Cebu City), detained Army Capt. Dante Langkit (lone district, Kalinga), and detained Marines Capt. Gary Alejano (mayor, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental).

How Escudero was selected

During the convention, Acedillo, who has been released from detention and is the group's spokesman, reportedly asked 375 chapter presidents and coordinators to cast their votes who will be the group will endorse for president based character, vision and leadership ability.

Escudero reportedly garnered 53.7 percent of the votes over the other presidential aspirants considered by the group to be endorsed - Sen. Manny Villar, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, and former President Estrada.

Acedillo said administration presidential bet, National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., was excluded from the list because he has vowed to continue with the policies of the Arroyo administration if he wins.

“He made a statement that he will continue the policies of this administration. We have no business considering him because precisely, it is merely a continuation of the current dispensation which we want changed,” said Acedillo.

“Our selection of Sen. Escudero is based on a wide consultation with our 40,000 members…They were the ones who made the decision who are we going to support as president. This is not an individual decision but a decision of the entire Magdalo Group and Magdalo party,” he said.

“That is how they voted,” said Acedillo, referring to the endorsement of Escudero, a vocal critic of the President.

'Do everything they can' to help Chiz

“The fact that we supported him means that we will do everything that we can to help make sure that he is victorious next year…We will do everything we can, we will do our best given the resources that we have and the kind of network that we are building right now,” added Acedillo.

Acedillo said their group does not include active military personnel who are, under military regulations, are prohibited from joining alliances or any political groups while still in the service.

“But that is not to say that we do not have their support and their sympathy,” said Acedillo.

The Magdalo group was formed by over 300 junior officers and soldiers who occupied the posh Oakwood apartments (now Ascott hotel) in Makati City in July 2003 allegedly to dramatize their protest against corruption in the government, including in the military. Some, including Trillanes, Alejano and Layug are still detained and are facing coup d'etat cherges in a regional trial court.

Lim and Querubin are facing a charge of mutiny before a military court for allegedly plotting to oust President Arroyo in February 2006.

Lim, along with Trillanes and other participants of the alleged Oakwood mutiny, are also charged with rebellion in connection with the November 2007 occupation of the Manila Peninsula Hotel.

Led by Trillanes, a former Navy lieutenant senior grade, the Magdalo group has reportedly 40,000 members nationwide, 100 of them reportedly are former military men.

Lim has earlier accepted to run under the banner of Estrada while Querubin is expected to run under Villar.

The group has asked the Commission on Elections to be accredited as a political party. The group said it expects the poll body to come up with a decision in the coming weeks.

Escudero 'honored'

Escudero said he is "honored" by the "overwhelming support" from the Magdalo group.

"I am very grateful to see that we still have a preponderance of men and women who are willing to sacrifice everything, even their life and liberty, for the greater good," Escudero said in a statement Sunday.

"Let me take this opportunity to also declare my unqualified support for Samahang Magdalo, its leaders and the ideals and principles the group stands for," he said.

"We are no different from each other as I too advocate for change. With our new found unity, it is my fervent hope that we usher in a new brand of leadership in the country. One that will be more responsive to the needs of the people. One that will put an end to a cycle of corruption and exploitation," he added.