Filtered By: Topstories
News

Poe proclaims Escudero as her running mate in 2016 polls


(Updated 1:31 p.m.) Senator Grace Poe on Thursday proclaimed her long-time friend Senator Francis Escudero as her running mate, ending months of speculations regarding their political plans for the 2016 national elections.

The announcement was made a day after Poe declared her intention to seek the presidency in next year's polls.

"Sa araw na ito, mayroon na tayong napili na maging katuwang natin ... sa katauhan ni Senator  Chiz Escudero," Poe said in Thursday's gathering held at the Kalayaan Hall of Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan.

Also she said, "may mga nagsasabi na dahil kaibigan si Sen. Chiz, kaya ko kasama. Totoo kaibigan ko si Sen. Chiz, pero pagdating sa bayan, ang ating dapat gawing batayan  ng mga makakasama ay isang taong mapagkakatiwalaan natin, isang taong may kakayanan at isang taong may nagawa na para sa kanyang mga kababayan.”

"Ikinagagalak ko na may katuwang na tayo pagdating sa bayan. Ang batayan natin ay hindi lamang dahil siya ay kaibigan ko kundi dahil siya ay mapapagkatiwalaan, may kakayahan, at may nagawa na para sa bayan," Poe said.

"Hinihingi ko ang inyong suporta para sa inaasahang manilbihan sa atin, sa ating pangalawang pangulo, Sen. Chiz Escudero," she added.

In response, Escudero said: "Tinatanggap ko, nang may buong tapang at pagpapakumbaba ang hamon ni Senator Grace na maging katuwang niya sa landas niyang tatahakin bilang kanyang ikalawang pangulo."

He said he believes in the characteristic and capability of Poe. "Tulad ng kanyang ama na si FPJ, nasa tamang lugar ang puso ni Senator Poe. Naniniwala ako na bilang pangulo, si Senator Grace Poe o GP ay magtatatag ng Gobyernong may Puso."



Also, Poe said, "Ikinagagalak ko na may katuwang na tayo pagdating sa bayan. Ang batayan natin ay hindi lamang dahil siya ay kaibigan ko kundi dahil siya ay mapapagkatiwalaan, may kakayahan, at may nagawa na para sa bayan."

In his response speech, Escudero also said: "Ako po si Chiz Escudero, isang Pilipino, anak, asawa, at Bicolanong lingkod bayan. Buong pagpapakumbaba ko pong inaalay  sa tulong ng Diyos at ni Ina ang aking sarili sa mas mataas na paninilbihan bilang inyong ikalawang pangulo ng ating bansa," Escudero said

Among those present were Poe's mother, Susan Roces; sister Lovi Poe and actor Rocco Nacino; Escudero's wife, actress Heart Evangelista, and mother-in-law Cecil Ongpauco; and Escudero's mother, Sorsogon Rep. Evelina Escudero.

Also in attendance were Nationalist People’s Coalition president Giorgidi Aggabao, resigned Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office director Florencio Noel, former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Romeo Jalosjos, and former Partido Manggagawa Rep. Renato Magtubo.

Escudero reiterated their independence saying, "Pilipinas ang partido namin ni Sen. Grace Poe at mga Pilipino ang aming kapartido."

"Naniniwala kami na ang sinumang tumatakbo o maninilbihan bilang pangulo o ikalawang pangulo, hindi dapat miyembro ng iisang partido," he added.

Government with a heart

Escudero said he and Poe would establish a government with a heart through a detailed platform for each agency, which will be based on their yearly budget.

He said the next president will appoint and delegate over 5,000 people in government who will fill positions in 500 agencies, and will spend P18 trillion over a six-year term.

“Hindi pwede ang teka-teka o analysis paralysis sa pamamahala ng bansa. We should hit the ground running from the first day until the last. We cannot afford to do otherwise,” he said.

He further said that through the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill and a crackdown on anomalies, they will fight corruption by ensuring that the government will be run on a simple principle—that discretion equals corruption.

“Minimize discretion and we will be able to minimize corruption; eliminate it and we will be able to eliminate corruption,” he said.

He also said that the next administration should raise the quality of government service by working together and helping one another to forge into reality their collective dream of a progressive, developed, orderly, and happy nation, where justice prevails and peace reigns.

“Isang bansa kung saan pantay ang pagtrato sa bawat Pilipino at kung saan wala tayong maiiwan at wala tayong iiwanan,” said Escudero.

Senatorial line-up

In an interview after the event, Rep. Escudero said the Poe-Escudero tandem now has eight candidates in their senatorial line-up but she refused to name them.
 
"Meron, I think eight. I guess by the end of this month kumpleto na 'yun," she said. 
 
"Wait for them na lang to announce, ayokong magsalita. Sila na ang ang tanungin niyo dun," the senator's mother added.

Ties that bind
 
Poe earlier said that she is more comfortable with Escudero as her running mate. 

Escudero served as spokesperson of Poe’s father, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr, during the 2004 presidential elections.

The two have been leading in recent presidential and vice presidential surveys. They earlier vowed to remain independent candidates should they decide to seek higher posts in the coming polls.

Earlier this year, Poe and Escudero had meetings with President Benigno Aquino III to discuss the 2016 polls, including the possibility of a unified ticket.

However, efforts of the ruling Liberal Party to get Poe as running mate of administration bet Mar Roxas proved futile.

Last month, Nationalist People's Coalition met and talked with Poe and Escudero. The party, however, has yet to issue an official statement about who it will support in the May 2016 elections.

But NPC stalwart Senator Vicente Sotto III said many of their members are inclined to support the Poe-Escudero tandem.

In July, Escudero resigned as chairman of the powerful Senate finance committee out of delicadeza and to shield the budget process from suspicions that he will use the 2016 budget for his political interest.

Senator Sergio Osmeña III earlier warned Poe against running with Escudero, saying it might weigh her down. He instead advised her to run as independent. —LBG/KG, GMA News
LOADING CONTENT