INQUIRER.net
First Posted 10:07:00 10/28/2009
Filed Under: Eleksyon 2010, Elections, Politics
MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Contrary to expectations that he would announce his presidential candidacy in the 2010 elections, Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Wednesday instead announced that he is resigning from the Nationalist People’s Coalition.Escudero also asked for more time to decide whether or not he would seek the presidency next year.
"Nais ko pong ipabatid sa inyo na ako ay nagpaaalam na at nag-resign na bilang miyembro ng Nationalist People's Coalition o NPC, ang partidong kinabibilangan ko mula pa noong 1998 (I want to let you know that I have bid goodbye and have resigned as member of NPC, the party I have belonged to since 1998)," Escudero said at a press conference held at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan.
In his speech, Escudero asked that he would be given time to decide whether or not to seek a higher office next year.
"Hiling ko po ay panahon para ako ay magpasya ako bilang ako at hindi diktado o hindi sinasabihan ng sinuman (I ask for time to decide for me, not on anyone’s order)," he said.
Escudero said he left his party for three reasons:
First, he said, anyone aspiring for the presidency should not be part of any group.
"Ang partido lamang dapat nya ay Pilipinas at ang kanyang mga kapartido ay lahat ng Pilipino…Wala naman po kasing iisang partido o grupo na kayang resolbahin ang mga malalim at mabigat na problema ng bansa. Kailangan ang tulong ng bawat isa. Walang hindi kasali. Lahat dapat kasama (A presidential wannabe’s party must be the Philippines and his party mates all Filipinos…No single party or group can resolve all deep and heavy problems of our country. Everyone’s help is needed. Not one is exempted. All must join)," he said.
Second, Escudero said anyone who wants to become president would not be able to perform his job if his hands and feet are tied and his eyes are blindfolded.
"At lalong hindi dapat magdesisyon base sa dinidikta ng interes ng iisang grupo, partido o tao lamang (And he cannot decide based on the interest of only one group or party or person)," he said.
"Kung gusto nating umunlad at guminhawa, hindi na pwede ang dating gawi (If we want to prosper and become comfortable, the old ways will not work),” he said, particularly on the issues of corruption, labor contractualization, and oil deregulation.
And third, the senator said he believes he could decide freely on the role he would play in the upcoming elections if he does not belong with any group.
Escudero said he informed the chairman of the party, former Governor Faustino Dy, and not the founder of NPC, businessman Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco, of his decision to leave the party Tuesday night.
But the senator quickly dispelled speculations of any rift with Cojuangco and other party mates.
No big personalities, except for the senator's father, Sorsogon Representative Salvador Escudero, were present when he made the announcement. The event was attended by his supporters from various groups led by the Filipinos for Peace, Justice, and Progress Movement, Magdalao Para sa Pagbabago led by detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Youth for Chiz, Friends of Chiz, and "Move my Chiz, Move." The supporters wore white and red shirts and stickers carrying the name of the senator.
Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20091028-232707/Escudero-quits-NPC-no-2010-poll-bid-yet
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