To run or not to run? Escudero remains undecided Maila Ager INQUIRER.net
November 04, 2009
MANILA, Philippines—A week after leaving the Nationalist People’s Coalition, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero remains undecided whether he would join the 2010 presidential race.
He admitted however that running as an independent candidate next year was one of the options he has been contemplating for the past days.
“Isa ‘yan sa mga pinag iisipan at tinitimbang ko sa ngayon at mga nagdaang araw (That’s one thing I’ve been contemplating these days),” he told reporters during a regular forum in the Senate on Wednesday .
“Wala pang pinal na pasya at desisyon ako pero hiling ko rin naman na bigyan ako ng panahon para timbangin ang mga bagay bagay na ito dahil ilang araw pa lang akong malaya mula sa pagiging isang miyembro ng isang partido (There’s no final decision yet and my appeal is that I be given time to weigh things because it’s just a few days that I’ve been free from being a member of a party),” he said.
Escudero acknowledged that no one has won the presidency without the backing of any political group, but added that this should not prevent anyone from dreaming.
“Lahat o karamihan ay nagsisimula sa pangarap. Ang tanong lamang, ito ba ay napapanahon? (Everything or most of the things start a dream. The question is, is this timely?” he said.
Since leaving his party, Escudero said he has not talked with any groups or presidential bets , contrary to what has been reported in the media.
He also maintained his previous statements against running with either Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, the administration’s bet, or Senator Manuel Villar.
“Asa (Dream on),” Escudero said in jest when a reporter joked that he would meet with Teodoro after the forum.
And on a possible tandem with Villar, the neophyte senator reiterated that the former Senate president must first explain all the issues being hurled against him in connection with the alleged anomalous C-5 road extension project.
Villar is facing an ethics case at the Senate for allegedly using his position to profit from the said road project. The has senator denied the allegations.
