SEN. Francis Escudero yesterday resigned from the Nationalist People’s Coalition, the only political party he has joined since entering politics 11 years ago and which was expected to carry his presidential candidacy in next year’s elections.The announcement came as a surprise to party mates.
Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco said he learned of Escudero’s resignation only through the media. He said the party even had a consensus to declare Escudero the NPC standard bearer, and this was scheduled for 6 p.m. yesterday.
Cojuangco is the son of business tycoon Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco who founded the NPC.
"Hindi ko alam ang nangyari. Pero wala akong alam na sama ng loob. I don’t see any reason for him to leave the party," he said.
Escudero said he informed former Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy, NPC chairman emeritus, of his decision, Tuesday night.
"Nagpaalam ako sa chairman ng partido si Governor Dy at wala ng iba," he said.
Escudero said he has no quarrel with the NPC. "Wala po akong problema sa aking mga kapartido. Sana ay maunawaan nila ang aking desisyon," he said.
At the Club Filipino in San Juan where he made the announcement, Escudero said he believes anyone seeking the presidency should not belong to any political party.
"Ang partido lamang dapat niya ay Pilipinas at ang kanyang mga kapartido ay lahat ng Pilipino," said Escudero, 40, the youngest of presidential aspirants.
He said only a united citizenry, and not a single party or group, can solve the country’s numerous, deep-seated problems.
Escudero also said political parties have become obstacles to genuine and meaningful change.
"Para po sa akin, hindi dapat idikta ng isang partido ang gagawin ng sino mang tatakbo. Dahil kung ganoon, papaano niya mapapanagot ang mga tiwali sa gobyerno kung ito ay kagrupo o kasama niya?" he said.
"Papaano niya i-aabolish ang pork barrel at i-institute ang line item budgeting kung kasama niya ay puro kongresista at puro senador," Escudero asked.
Escudero, deferring any announcement on his plan for the 2010 elections, said he needs more time to decide for himself what to do next now that he is his own man.
"This should be the first test of leadership of any putative candidate – for him to decide on his own and take full responsibility for the decision on whether not to run and what position to run for," he said.
He said a presidential aspirant, or a president, should not have his hands and feet "chained" to a party. "Hindi pu-pwedeng nakapiring ang mata at nakabusal ang bibig dahil kung ganyan po ang mangyayari dating gawi na naman at papaano niya mare-resolbahan ang mga problema ng ating bansa."
He said he intends to serve the people in a higher position.
"Hindi po ako heredero, hindi po ako bilyonaryo kaya kailangang timbangin ko ang desisyon sa pagtakbo sa mga susunod na linggo," he said although he refused to say whether financial matters would determine his decision.
`PAINFUL DECISION’
Escudero’s campaign manager, Lito Banayo, said the senator’s decision to bolt the NPC and "make a run for the presidency as an independent candidate" was a "very painful decision" for him, but it was one that had to be made.
"It was a decision that had to be made because his brand of politics – people politics – would eventually contradict party politics," Banayo said.
"It was a decision that Chiz had agonized over in the past weeks and months, considering that he has always been a loyal member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition. He had consulted senior party leaders, including Ambassador Danding Cojuangco, about this. This was no spur-of-the-moment decision," Banayo said.
NEW BREED
Banayo said Escudero has always been passionately committed to genuine change in politics.
"Chiz represents the new breed of politicians in this country – young, idealistic and totally committed to reforming and changing the system we have grown accustomed to. This was the biggest factor in his decision to leave NPC, launch his candidacy, and move forward," Banayo said.
Sen. Loren Legarda, who was earlier known to be seeking to be the NPC standard bearer, said she understands the "noble sentiments" behind Escudero’s resignation.
In a hastily-called press conference at the NPC headquarters in Quezon City, Legarda said she would stick it out with the party as its vice presidential candidate.
Escudero dismissed reports he is not on speaking terms with Legarda and that he is not in favor of her as his running mate.
Legarda on Tuesday admitted that she has not been meeting with Escudero to discuss their expected tandem for the 2010 polls.
POSSIBILITIES
Rizal Rep. Jack Duavit, NPC secretary general, said it is still possible for the party to make Legarda its standard bearer in the absence of a viable presidential candidate.
"Anything is possible under the sun," he said. "We’re not a dictatorship, we always decide on things by reaching a consensus."
Valenzuela Rep. Rex Gatchalian, NPC spokesman, said the party leadership will hold "consultations with the members and supporters until they arrive in a common decision with regard to their future political plans."
Gatchalian said that while they are surprised with Escudero’s decision, "the NPC will remain solid and united behind in support of other aspirants who will run for different positions under the party’s banner in next year’s polls."
NO QUARREL
Escudero’s resignation reportedly came a day after he had a one-on-one with Danding.
Escudero’s father, Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero III, said there no animosity at all.
"Ipinaliwanag lang niya that he just wants to broaden his perspectives. Wala namang problema e. Wala naman siyang rancor sa NPC," the older Escudero said.
Duavit said despite the resignation, he would still support the younger Escudero him on a "personal capacity."
He said the party would meet soon to decide on the next move.
No big personalities, except for the senator’s father, were present at the Club Filipino during Escudero’s announcement.
There were groups of supporters, including the Filipinos for Peace, Justice and Progress Movement, Magdalo Para sa Pagbabago which has endorsed Escudero’s presidential bid, Youth for Chiz, Friends of Chiz and Move my Chiz, Move.
LAKAS-KAMPI-NPC?
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., a nephew of Danding who also bolted the NPC after he was given the defense portfolio in August 2007, said he wished that Escudero would end up taking the right path.
"I think he thought of this carefully… He made a considered decision and hopefully...each and everyone of us end up in a good journey," said Teodoro of Escudero.
Teodoro declined further comment on Escudero’s resignation. "It’s not a matter for me, I’m a Lakas-Kampi CMD candidate."
Teodoro also said he was not aware of any talk about getting Escudero as his running mate.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Lakas-Kampi president, said a possible result of Escudero’s decision is a coalition between the NPC and the administration party.
Ermita said a coalition of Lakas-Kampi and NPC would make the administration coalition even stronger, given that the Lakas-Kampi is biggest coalition party and the NPC is the second biggest party. – With Wendell Vigilia, Victor Reyes and Jocelyn Montemayor
He said another possibility is Escudero running as Teodoro’s vice president.
"Let’s just say in politics really nothing is impossible. And so, that could very well happen and that could very well be a signal that there would be, not fusion, but an alliance between the two, the biggest and the bigger party. That could very well be a signal and if that happens but it’s not an impossibility," he added.
He said Teodoro and Escudero could help each other pull up their ratings. – With Wendell Vigilia, Victor Reyes and Jocelyn Montemayor
Source: http://www.malaya.com.ph/oct29issue/news/news1.html
Chiz has made the right decision to leave the NPC considering that he is the candidate of the Filipino people for President in 2010 elections.
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