Nene tells Chiz: Be realistic

By HANNAH L. TORREGOZA
November 20, 2009, 6:28pm


Be realistic.

This was the advice Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, Jr. gave to Sen. Francis Escudero who until now remains mum on his political plans for the May 2010 elections.

Escudero, who last month announced his resignation from the Nacionalist People’s Coalition (NPC) is said to be planning to either run for a president or vice president as an independent candidate.

Pimentel said that while Escudero remains a viable candidate in next year’s polls, it would be difficult for him to seek the highest government position without the support of a political party.

“I told him, Chiz (Escudero’s nickname) you know, I do believe that among the present crop of Bicolanos, you’re the one who has the most chances of becoming president,” Pimentel said during a press forum the other day at the Senate.

“Sana, you do it with some realism instead of just relying on your popularity because it is difficult to translate popularity into votes if you don’t have an organization,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel also said Escudero faces the big challenge of naming his vice presidential candidate and completing a senatorial slate if ever he decides to run for the presidency.

“If he’s going to run for president, who’s going to be his vice presidential candidate? Who will be his senatorial candidates? You see, its going to be very difficult,” he said.

But Pimentel said Escudero assured him that he will continue to weigh his options and consult his camp on the matter.

“He told me ‘my feet are on the ground’,” Pimentel said.

Escudero is expected to announce his presidential plans next week.

Meanwhile, Escudero filed a resolution in the Senate seeking an investigation into Government Service Insurance Systems (GSIS) funds of retired government employees to address complaints of delays in remittances to pensioners.

Escudero said the GSIS leadership needs to explain the delays in the remittances of retired government employees most of whom depend on these funds.

In filing Senate Resolution 1471, Escudero acted on a complaint by the Association of Retired Government Employees Pensioners, Inc. (ARGEP, Inc. Phils.).

The association also requested the GSIS to rescind the policy of postdating pension checks. But it noted that this was corrected by the GSIS upon its request but this was later changed by the GSIS when it began to date checks from the 1st to 8th day of every month instead of every 1st day of every month.

Escudero said the concerns of the ARGEP, Inc. Phils. are “quite valid, pertinent and apt at present time” especially since the reported P1-billion release of the GSIS to the national government happened in 2004 — a national and local election year.

“It is but natural and logical to be vigilant as ever on the use of the GSIS funds and to insist on what the law mandates for the use of these funds,” Escudero said.


Source: http://mb.com.ph/articles/230432/nene-tells-chiz-be-realistic