Chiz abandons 2010 bid

By Angie Rosales
11/25/2009


Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero yesterday said he will no longer run, whether for the presidency or the vice presidency, in the coming May 2010 elections, admitting that the matter of launching a presidential bid as an independent candidate is not doable.

He also confessed before a crowd of supporters at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City that the time is not “ripe” for him to plunge into the presidential race.

“I thought it would be easy to decide on this, but I was wrong. I have decided not to run for president in the coming elections.”

Admittedly, the senator finds it a difficult task to carry on a presidential campaign
, sustain it the manner in

which he wanted it to be, decides being as an independent candidate, specially if he will only find himself eventually adopting the system that he abhors.

In his speech, Escudero said the coming polls may not be the right time for him to pursue his goals, but stressed he is not abandoning his intention of being a president without being beholden to anyone, someday.

His statement dispelled talks that he has already settled for the vice presidency, a matter that even his former party mate in the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and supposed running mate, Sen. Loren Legarda, floated to the media over the weekend.

“I’ve always said that for me, it’s the presidency but not at all cost. Not at the cost of losing myself, not at the cost by being eaten up by the system and the process and certainly not at the cost of not being able to do the things that I want and set out to do,” he said.

Escudero added the matter of the presidency of colleague and close friend, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, was also taken into consideration by him.

If the present situation is proving to be in Aquino’s favor, Escudero said he will not stand in the way of a “friend” and be a stumbling block.

Administration and opposition parties immediately welcomed Escudero’s move.

Presidential adviser on political affairs Gabby Claudio said the judgment is entirely his.

“He’s in the best position to determine for himself whether it would have been wise or otherwise to run for president or any other positions in this election, and I guess based on the circumstances he has decided that it is not the right time nor the right circumstances to do so.”

Claudio also admitted that Escudero’s endorsement of a particular political party or candidate for the national or local level could make some difference.

The Nationalista Party (NP) said this narrows down the list of those in the presidential and vice presidential race.

“The chances of getting of majority president or vice president get greater with less candidates around,” NP spokesman Gilbert Remulla said.

“We wish him well and whatever he chooses to do next,” he added.

The NPC said it “welcomes and respects” the decision of Escudero to withdraw from the presidential race in next year’s elections despite the latter’s resignation from the party.

“Senator Escudero showed deep political maturity in coming up with his decision in as much as it was not an easy one to make,” NPC spokesman and Valenzuela Rep. Rex Gatchalian said.

“Although next year’s political exercise has somewhat lost some luster and excitement with the decision of Senator Escudero to drop his bid, yet he has shown once again that he is willing to sacrifice his own personal interests for the sake of the greater interest of the country and the people.” he stressed.

Gatchalian added notwithstanding Escudero’s decision, the party is still hopeful that the senator could join them in giving the support to Legarda’s vice presidential bid.

Makati Mayor and United Opposition (UNO) president Jejomar Binay, for his part, expressed his admiration for Escudero, describing the senator as someone who stands by his principles and an oppositionist when most politicians who now claim to be with the opposition were supporting the Arroyo administration.

“No one can question his principles. Chiz was with us in the opposition when most of the political personalities who now claim to be with the opposition were either with the present administration or were conveniently silent on major issues,” Binay, in a statement, said.

The Makati mayor, who will be the running mate of former President Joseph Estrada, added the senator “points the way to the new brand of politics needed by the country.”

Escudero and Binay worked together during the presidential bid of Fernando Poe Jr. Escudero was Poe’s spokesman while Binay was named the late actor’s campaign manager in 2004.

“Chiz was with us in the opposition when it was considered unpopular to be with the opposition. This was the time when the present administration enjoyed the support of some of the political parties who now identify themselves as opposition,” he added.

“Chiz would have given the electorate an opportunity to choose from a wider field of candidates, either as a candidate for president or vice president. I respect his decision, and my admiration for him has grown even more,” he added.

Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel said: “I am happy for him, that he realized that it was a quixotic venture for him to think that he can run for a high public office without any team or organization to back him up. That’s not quite possible under the circumstances. So good for him.”

“I commend the decision of Escudero to forego his plans for the presidency in the 2010 elections. It is a choice based on principle and on the need to promote a kind of leadership that goes beyond usual politics. It demonstrates his genuine desire to fulfill our common vision of restoring good governance in our democratic institutions,” Aquino said in a press statement. Charlie V. Manalo, Aytch S. de la Cruz and PNA


Source: http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20091125hed3.html