BY EFREN L. DANAO SENIOR REPORTER
In a move interpreted as favoring Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd, the presidential candidate of the Liberal Party in the 2010 elections, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Tuesday withdrew from next year’s polls.“I have decided that now is not the only time to realize my dream of the presidency. I will continue to hold on to that dream and promise if not now, then in the coming days,” he told a crowd at Club Filipino in San Juan City (Metro Manila).
Escudero belied earlier statements made by former Sen. Sergio “Serge” Osmeña 3rd that he would seek the vice presidency in the 2010 elections.
Escudero was the presumptive presidential candidate of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), until he
resigned suddenly from the party on October 28.
Sen. Loren Legarda, who was supposed to be his running mate at the NPC, has since joined the ticket of Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. of the Nacionalista Party.
Escudero said that he had talked with Aquino, but he insisted that Aquino did not ask anything from him and he did not give anything to Aquino. “We merely agreed that whatever my decision would be, we will remain friends.”
Aquino is the godfather of Es-cudero’s twins.
Noynoy to benefit
Escudero admitted that the high rating of Aquino in the surveys and his lack of finances were factors in his decision not to run whether for president or vice president in the May 2010 balloting.
His political adviser, newspaper columnist Lito Banayo, said that Aquino was bound to benefit most from the withdrawal of Escudero.
“Most of Chiz’s supporters belong to the youth, just like Noynoy’s,” Banayo added.
He noted that Escudero was ranked third in the latest Pulse Asia survey, behind Aquino and Villar.
“Had he decided to run, he could have overtaken Villar, but I don’t know about Noynoy. His lead is just too big,” Banayo said.
According to Escudero, he still has to decide whom to support for president.
“I challenge all presidential candidates to prove that they are capable of implementing what they are promising and that they could satisfy the desire of the people for genuine reforms,” he said.
The ‘right’ decision
Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan of the Liberal Party said that Es-cudero made the “right decision” not to run.
“Perhaps he realized that the Noy[noy]-Mar tandem will be difficult to beat given the massive outpouring of sympathy and support from the people,” Pangilinan added, referring to Aquino and Sen. Manuel “Mar”
Roxas 2nd, the Liberal Party’s vice presidential candidate in the 2010 elections.
Escudero gave a wry smile when asked to react to Pangilinan’s comment.
“Now is not the proper time for hot air,” he said.
Roxas praised Escudero for making a “difficult decision.” He expressed the hope that Escudero would join him and Aquino in instituting reforms.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said that Escudero should now focus his efforts on fighting off “pretenders” to the presidency next year.
“I hope Chiz will also join me in campaigning against the pretenders to the presidency, the traditional politicians out to deceive and fool us all before and after they get elected,” Lacson added.
He said that they could help the electorate choose the next leader who would not take advantage of his power and position to enrich himself in office and then engage in transactional politics to cover up for his sins.
In June, Lacson withdrew from the presidential race, saying he lacked the resources to keep up with his wealthier opponents who can afford frequent daily ads on radio and television.
Escudero’s decision to drop out from the race to Malacañang also drew praise from United Opposition President and Mayor Jejomar Binay of Makati City.
“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,” Binay said.
Binay and Escudero worked together during the presidential bid of Fernando Poe Jr. in the 2004 elections.
Escudero was Poe’s spokesman, while Binay was the late actor’s campaign manager.
WITH REPORTS FROM CRIS G. ODRONIA AND JAMES KONSTANTIN GALVEZ
Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/component/content/article/42-rokstories/6670-chiz-calls-it-quits-move-seen-to-favor-noynoy
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