Reelectionist Sen. Manuel ‘’Lito’’ M. Lapid vowed Friday that he would continue fighting for his principles and for the poor regardless of their political affiliations.

The movie actor-legislator stressed this in response to allegations by party-list Akbayan that he did nothing in the Senate since he became a senator in 2004.

Lapid cited his performance in the Senate which included the passage of his pet measure, the Free Legal Assistance to the Poor Act of 2010 or the ‘’Lapid law,’’ and four other laws that he helped pass in  the Senate and the House of Representatives either as author or co-author.

The criticisms against him are expected because he is consistently ranked 10th or 11th in poll surveys for senatorial candidates campaigning to be included in the winning ‘’Magic 12,’’ he said.

Lapid stressed that his work on the passage of the Lapid law which gives poor litigants access to the services of private lawyers proves that he is his own man and does not act upon the bidding of his political affiliation, the Lakas-Kampi-CMD.