Chiz Escudero eyes Senate comeback under NPC in Eleksyon 2022

Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday confirmed that he will seek a fresh term in the Senate under the Nationalist People’s Coalition banner in next year’s national elections.

Escudero  issued his statement days after NPC chairman and Senate President Vicente Sotto III announced that the Bicolano governor and former Senator Loren Legarda will be part of the party’s senatorial slate in the upcoming polls.

“I confirm Senate President Tito Sotto’s statement that I do plan to run for the Senate. I do plan to place my name once again in the ballot for the Senate in the hope that I will be able to do my part in helping our country recover from this pandemic after this administration,” Escudero said.

Escudero was first elected as senator in 2007. His two consecutive terms in the Senate expired last 2019.

After his term in the Senate, Escudero ran and won the gubernatorial post in his hometown Sorsogon.

Prior to his Senate stint, he represented the 1st district of Sorsogon in the House of Representatives from 1998 to 2007.

In 2016, Escudero ran for vice president, but he conceded defeat after placing fourth in the ranking.

The vice presidential race was won by then-Camarines Sur. Representative Leni Robredo.

While he has the experience in running for various elective posts, Escudero said he cannot be complacent in his senatorial bid in 2022.

“There are 10 re-electionists unless they are running for higher office and you’re looking at 8 to 12 former senators who intend to go back to the Senate, and about 5 to 8 Cabinet secretaries, incumbent secretaries who intend to run as well. We are not even counting showbiz and other known personalities,” he said.

“Whoever is way behind should not be sad about it because the numbers [of the surveys] will change. The starting numbers that you will see, you will have to see some time in January or February. That’s when the starting gun in so far the real numbers are concerned for the upcoming elections,” he explained.

Moreover, Escudero said he will bring his experience in the local government to the Senate.

The Sorsogon governor said running the provincial government has opened his eyes to the realities on the ground and the challenges that the local government units are experiencing, particularly the hurdles brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He noted that “legislating and executing laws are two different things.”

Escudero also underscored the need for LGUs’ autonomy on matters that are best decided by the local officials rather than by the national government.

“In fact, if there would be one platform that should be brought, that would be to enable the local government units to decide for themselves more freely because quite frankly, they know, we know better what we need than any armchair secretary or undersecretary simply holding office in an air-conditioned building in Metro Manila,” he said.

“I hope they will hear them out more often. I hope they will give them more leeway so far deciding for themselves. Whether we have a pandemic or not, I think they should give credit where credit is due because local government officials have been doing a very good job. Fairly good job actually at the local level in their respective provinces and cities,” Escudero added.

So far, Escudero and incumbent Senator Francis Pangilinan are the ones who have announced their bid for a senatorial seat in 2022 so far. — RSJ, GMA News