Chiz quits powerful Senate committee over possible 2016 run

Published July 28, 2015 11:33am

(Updated 3:33 p.m.) Saying he is seriously considering running for a higher post in 2016, Senator Francis Escudero on Tuesday resigned as chairman of the powerful Senate Committee on Finance and as co-chairman of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Public Expenditures.

"Seryoso kong pinag-iisipan pero wala pa akong pasya," Escudero said when asked if he is running in 2016.

Escudero sent a letter of his resignation to Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Sen. Escudero's resignation letter from the Senate Commitee on Finance

Last month, Escudero confirmed that he and Poe have talked about a possible Poe-Chiz tandem in the 2016 elections but stressed that nothing final has been decided yet.

The two senators have been leading presidential and vice presidential surveys for 2016.

Escudero and Poe, along with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, had a meeting with President Aquino for five hours last week. The two senators had also met with former President Fidel Ramos.

In his letter to Drilon, Escudero said he resigned to keep the upcoming budget deliberations free from politics.

“I believe that it behooves me to step down at this juncture to ensure that deliberations on the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) – considered the single most important piece of legislation passed by Congress each year – are untainted by suspicions or perceptions of partisan politics,” the senator said.

“It is, Mr. President, what propriety requires; it is, I believe, what our people expect from us all: delicadeza,” he added.

The senator said public pronouncements regarding his possible candidacy for higher office dictate that he should give up the two powerful finance panels and spare the budget deliberation from possible misperception that he may use it to further his own political plans and actions.

The senator told reporters at the Senate that he will remain a member of the majority bloc.

"We (he and President Aquino) remain friends and my support for him will continue," he said.

Despite his resignation, Escudero said he is committed to remain at the forefront of efforts to ensure the timely passage of the GAB and that categorical safeguards are in place to guarantee that it complies with the Supreme Court rulings on the Priority Development Assistance Fund and the Disbursement Acceleration Program.

Escudero’s term as senator is until 2019.

'Deft political move'

In a press statement. Drilon assured the public that the passage of the proposed 2016 national budget will not be affected by Escudero’s resignation.

“Rest assured that the Senate’s handling of the 2016 national budget will not be affected by this development and it will be passed on time, in order to ensure the uninterrupted flow of services and programs to the people,” he said.

He added that he will immediately consult with the majority coalition on who will be the next finance committee chairman.

Drilon, meanwhile, commended Escudero for voluntarily resigning as chairman of the committee “so that the 2016 national budget will be shielded from possible allegations of partisanship should he seek higher office in the next elections.”

“The political season is already upon us. Having said that, his resignation is a deft political move. This early, he will be able to fend off any possible accusations that the 2016 national budget is being designed to help his candidacy,” he said.

“As chairman of the Finance Committee, all eyes would have been on Senator Escudero, especially that of his political adversaries,” Drilon added.

Meanwhile, Sen. Cynthia Villar believed that Escudero is really keen on running in next year’s poll following his resignation.

“Maraming advantages and disadvantages. Ikaw hinihingan ng budget, 'pag hindi napagbigyan problema din yun. So baka nahihirapan din siya sa ganun considering he’s running. I think he’s running,” she told reporters.

She acknowledged that the finance committee is very difficult to handle.

“Iyong finance, mahirap na committee kasi lahat ng tao sa 'yo pumupunta sa budget and sometimes it’s too difficult,” she said. —ALG, GMA News

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