Escudero confirms talking with Grace on possible Poe-Chiz tandem

Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Monday confirmed talks with Senator Grace Poe about possibly running together in 2016, but stressed that no final decision has been reached on the matter.

 

At the sidelines of the hearing by the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Public Expenditures, Escudero said he and Poe need more time to decide on their possible tandem because of several considerations, such as their lack of a party and machinery to mount a campaign.

 

"Wala pang pagkakasundo, wala pang desisyon," Escudero replied when asked about the possible Poe-Chiz tandem.

 

"May pag-uusap. Di ko pwedeng ikaila 'yun, pero kung may desisyon o pasya na, wala pa, dahil hindi katulad ng iba na may pondo at partido, kami wala noon. So siguro tama lang na mahabang panahon ang gugulin ni Senator Poe, ko at kung sakali, kaming dalawa sa anumang pagpasya namin sa pagtakbo o di naming pagtakbo sa 2016," he said.

 

Escudero said he and Poe have not even talked about which positions they might aspire for since they are currently preoccupied with deciding on whether or not to run for higher office in 2016.

 

"Right now, wala pang ganoon [na usapan kung magiging vice president ako ni Sen. Poe]. Ang pinag-uusapan namin ay ang pagtakbo o di pagtakbo. Priority palagi ang pasya ni Sen. Poe. Kung anong ginawa kong pagsisilbi para sa tatay niya noon, gayundin ang pag-alok ng suporta sa kanya sa kung anumang magiging pasya niya," he said.

During the 2004 presidential elections, Escudero served as spokesperson of actor Fernando Poe Jr., Grace's father.

 

Poe earlier admitted she would be more comfortable to have Escudero as a running mate if ever she decides to run for president.

 

The neophyte senator is seen as a possible presidential candidate because of her strong showing in pre-election voter preference surveys.

 

Poe and Escudero ran and won in the 2013 elections as independent candidates under the administration-led coalition. A the time, Escudero won as a reelectionist senator.

 

Still independent

 

Regardless of his political plans, Escudero vowed to remain independent and said he has no plans of forming a political party with Poe.

 

"t speak for her (Poe) pero para sa akin, mas maganda siguro manaitling independent. Dapat ang partido mo, Pilipinas ang pangalan, at ang kapartido mo ay mga Pilipino para ang pagsisilbi mo ay maging pantay-pantay," he said.

 

The senator added that his relationship with Poe is not a mere alliance, but genuine friendship. "Wala kaming alyansa. Mayroon kaming pagkakaibigan. Hindi siguro puwedeng tawaging alyansa yun dahil hindi naman kami mga partido," he said.

 

No grudge vs. LP

 

Meanwhile, Escudero clarified he doesn't harbor any ill feelings toward the Liberal Party for reportedly ruling him out from the list of possible running mates for the ruling party's presumptive standard bearer, Interior Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II.

 

"Wala naman akong pwedeng ireklamo doon [sa desisyon ng LP].. Nirerespeto ko ang kanilang desisyon dahil hindi naman ako bahagi ng LP para pakialaman o panghimasukan ang anumang desisyong gagawin nila para sa partido nila," he said.

 

A report published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer last Sunday said LP members aren't keen on considering Escudero as Roxas' running mate because he supported the candidacy of then-Makati mayor Jejomar Binay for the 2010 vice presidential race.

 

In a separate interview, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad stopped short of saying that Escudero is not being considered to run alongside Roxas but hinted about forming a coalition with non-party members.

 

I'm not in a position to say that [Sen. Escudero is out] because right now everybody is talking to everybody. Everything is pretty much fluid," said Abad, who served as LP's campaign manager in the 2010 elections.

 

"I wouldn't even say that [Chiz is out] because we have been engaging in coalition politics. 2016 is going to be like 2010. I don't think it will only be the political parties that would determine the elections in 2016 because in 2010, many of our citizens groups, the business community, the other sectors were actually part of that exercise. The political parties were just part of that process," he added.

 

Asked if the LP has a grudge against Escudero for his previous support for Binay, Abad said: "These things happen in politics. Kung madali kang mapikon...it's a rough game but it's a reality that all politicians face." — RSJ, GMA News