Cesar Montano to Run for Senator in 2019 Under LP After Junked by PDP-Laban

Actor Cesar Montano is set to run for senator in the coming 2019 midterm elections under the Liberal Party (LP). This is after the PDP-Laban rejected his bid for membership. This development comes four days after he resigned as Chief Operation Officer (COO) of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB).

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"It is an honor for our party to accept (Cesar) Montano as one of our senatorial candidates in the 2019 elections. His presence in our line up makes us feel more confident that we will have a louder voice in the senate." Ifugao Rep. Teodoro “Teddy” Baguilat said in a text message to reporters on Friday, May 25.

"Despite the allegations against him, we strongly believe that his integrity is still in tact. Resigning from his goverment post has convinced us he has 'delicadeza.' The public should also understand that there were no cases filed against him." Baguilat, who is also LP's vice president (VP) for internal affairs, added.

Montano, 55, is a known supporter of President Rordigo Duterte during the 2016 elections. In December 2016, he was appointed as the head of the TPB. But since then, he is being accused of mismanaging the agency and hiring some of his closest friends and relatives, including his brother Rommel Montano.

Montano also allegedly issued three checks amounting to P80 million to an event organizer as advance payment for the P320-million "Buhay Carinderia," a project that aims to promote local eateries. The said project has not yet been started when the payment was made and allegedly did not pass through proper bidding.

This prompted newly-appointed DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat to suspend all the other projects of TPB, and had asked the Commission on Audit (COA) to review its projects. Last Thursday, the TPB board of directors unanimously assigned Arnold Gonzales as TPB OIC (officer in charge), replacing Montano.

Montano, who was known for portraying the country’s national hero Dr. Jose Rizal in the 1998 blockbuster movie Rizal, also allegedly entered into contracts with producers to hold concerts and events where he was one of the performers. He is also accused of hiring relatives and friends, incompetence, and using public funds for personal travels.



Cesar Montano is not really new in politics. He ran for senator in the 2007 elections under the Lakas Partylist but lost. In 2010, the "Rizal" actor ran for Governor in his home province Bohol under LP but lost again. In 2016, he ran as the 2nd nominee of Aangat Tayo party-list and lost again. But will he win this time?

Contributed by Orlando Gagui