Powerful godfathers don’t affect his integrity, Chiz Escudero says

Senator Francis Escudero sees nothing wrong with having business leaders and other influential personalities standing as principal sponsors at his and wife Heart Evangelista's lavish wedding.

In an interview with the Investigative Documentaries on Thursday, vice presidential candidate Escudero said powerful godfathers and godmothers have never affected his independence as a government official.

“On the list of sponsors or wedding ninongs and ninangs, hindi ho ba nalagay kaya sa alanganin ang inyong independence as a senator? Medyo mga astig na businessmen ang mga nandoon?” Investigative Documentaries host Malou Mangahas asked.

Escudero replied that he had already proven a lot of times that he can separate personal ties from his work.

Escudero said that former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was his godmother in his first wedding with his now ex-wife, and yet, he initiated impeachment complaints againt her when he was still a congressman of Sorsogon.

“Isa na lang siguro. Ninang ko si GMA sa kasal. Ako ang nanguna sa pag-impeach sa kanya. Walang basehan pagdating sa trabaho, kung trabaho ang usapan. Hiwalay iyon at napatunayan ko na iyon. Hindi lang minsan, sa makaulit at ilang beses pa,” Escudero said.

Escudero said former President and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada was also his godfather in his first wedding, and yet, in the 2010 elections, he opted to support the presidential bid of then-Senator Benigno Aquino III instead of Estrada.

“Uulitin ko, labingpito, labingwalo taon na ako sa politka at public service. Hindi naging conflict ang mga naging ninong. Iyong isa ko pa ngang ninong was the Ambassador Cojuangco, nag-resign ako sa partido niya. So ano pa ang gusto nilang patunayan?” Escudero said referring to Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. chairman of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Escudero used to be  member of NPC from 1998 until he left it late in 2009 shortly before the 2010 national elections.

Next to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Escudero ranks as the second poorest senator based on his 2014 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, with a net worth of only P6 million. -Elizabeth Marcelo/NB, GMA News