Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero resigned from the Nationalist People's Coalition yesterday, October 28, dashing speculations that he would be the political party's standard bearer for next year's elections.
ELECTION WATCH: Why did Senator Chiz Escudero quit NPC?
Thursday, October 29, 2009
05:28 PM
Rating
The proclamation of Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero's presidential bid had already been widely postponed. Originally scheduled on October 12 to earmark the celebration of his 40th birthday two days before, it was canceled due to the damage wrought by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. The date was moved to October 28.
But the anticipated pronouncement did not happen. Late evening of October 27, members of the media received a text message saying that the event originally slated to happen at 5 p.m. at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, where Sen. Escudero finished college, had to be postponed.
Instead, an impromptu press conference was held on the morning of October 28 in Club Filipino, Greenhills, San Juan, a historic place where Corazon Aquino was sworn in as President in 1986 after the first "People Power" revolution. It was also in Club Filipino where Sen. Noynoy Aquino declared his bid for presidency on August 9.
At 10 a.m., the hall was already filled with Escudero's supporters, most of them wearing red uniforms and carrying placards with the Senator's name.
Relatives and supporters of the Magdalo soldiers, who were jailed after staging the botched Oakwood mutiny last July 2003, were also present. Early this week, the group openly declared their support for Escudero should he seek the presidency.
But instead of a presidential announcement, Escudero announced his resignation from the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), his political party since he entered politics in 1998.
In his seven-minute speech, Escudero said he bolted out of NPC because he wants to make political decisions by himself, without "passing" the decision to someone else.
He said he resigned from his party Tuesday night, informing only party Chair Faustino Dy, and not to other NPC members, including Sen. Loren Legarda, who recently announced her plan to run as vice president.
Neither did Escudero divulge his plan to business tycoon Danding Cojuangco, NPC Chairman Emeritus, who founded the political party in 1992 to support his failed shot at the presidency.
PARTY IS THE PEOPLE. In his speech delivered mainly in Filipino, Escudero gave three reasons for his resignation. First, he said he wants to clear his political affiliations because the Filipino people is the political party of choice.
"Una, sino man po ang nagpaplanong tumakbo bilang pangulo, dapat wala pong partidong kinabibilangan—NPC, LP, NP, Lakas o ano pa man," he said. "Ang dapat na partidong kinabibilangan ng sino mang nagpaplanong tumakbo, dapat po Pilipinas. At lahat ng mga kapartido niya, dapat lahat din ng Pilipino."
Second, he said "no political solution is possible" for a presidential candidate whose "hands and feet are chained" to a political party.
"Para po sa akin, hindi dapat idikta ng isang partido ang gagawin ng sino mang tatakbo. Dahil kung ganoon, paano niya mapapanagot ang mga tiwali sa gobyerno kung ito ay kagrupo o kasama niya?" Escudero said.
Third, he said he wants to be able to decide what political plans to take "by himself." Throughout the open forum that came after his speech, the Senator repeatedly stated that he feels he is already "free."
Escudero also asked his supporters, who were cheering him after every paragraph of his speech, to give him time to decide what to do next.
"Hiling ko po ay panahon para ako ay magpasya—ako bilang ako at hindi diktado o hindi sinasabihan ng sinuman. Nais kong patunayan ito upang sa gayon mapatunayan ko rin sa inyo at sa aking sarili, na ito ay ginagawa ko sa mga tamang rason—hindi para sa anumang interes, hindi para sa kanino mang tao, kundi para sa inyo at para sa sambayanan," he said.
PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked Escudero how he would spend his time in the next few days.
"Ilang panahon at oras kasama ang pamilya at kambal ko. Uuwi ako sa Sorsogon para kausapin ang mga kababayan ko, at dun na siguro mag-uundas," he said.
Escudero started his political career as a young campaigner for his father, former Sorsogon Representative Salvador Escudero III. After finishing Law in UP Diliman in 1993, and a masters degree in International and Comparative Law at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D. C. in 1996, he won as a Sorsogon Representative in 1998. His career in the House of Representatives ended in 2007, after which he was elected Senator.
MONEY MATTERS. After Escudero's speech, rumors were robust that he resigned from NPC because of money.
- ELECTION WATCH: Senator Chiz Escudero to forgo presidential bid in 2010
- Lucy Torres-Gomez to political detractors: Move forward and be united for progress
- Francine Prieto defends friend Ara Mina against critics
- Richard Gomez files for reconsideration after being denied his bid for Congress in Ormoc
- Sen. Bong Revilla to appear in three movies after elections
Get showbiz news anytime, anywhere on your mobile! Just key in PEP ON and send to 4627. Available to all Sun, Globe, and Smart subscribers.
More News
- Whitney Houston dead at 48
- Madonna slams M.I.A. for her "teenage" antics at Super Bowl
- Marian Rivera: "Lahat na yata ibinigay na sa akin Lord... In return, ano ang dahilan para malungkot pa ako, magmaldita pa 'ko or ano pa?"
- Comedienne Mosang says she lost P105,000 in a scam
- JC Tiuseco denies rumors he's courting Sarah Lahbati
- Alex Gonzaga hosts new game show with Chris Tiu
-
Movies
Jim Paredes excited for APO music-inspired film, I Do Bi Doo, Bi Doo
Sam Concepcion and Tippy Dos Santos are part of this musical film.
-
Fashion
She reveals plan to put up a vintage store.
-
Profiles
ChicoSci vocalist Miggy Chavez plans to venture into tattooing and acting
After playing a small role in Segunda Mano , Miggy says "Why not?" to doing more mainstream projects.
-
TV Rating TNS
Three GMA-7 soaps aired their pilot episodes Monday.
Most Popular
- Marian Rivera explains visit to taping of a TV5 show; comments on Iza Calzado's transfer to ABS-CBN
- Grace Lee on President Noynoy Aquino: "I like him."
- Kris Aquino: "Annulment is not a cause for joy. The truth is, it was a marriage that failed but it's a cause for optimism."
- Talent manager Shirley Kuan on columnist Dolly Anne Carvajal: "She can stick to her story. She has a story to tell, fine. But it's a lie."
- Hayden Kho, Jr. insists there is "NO infidelity issue" between him and Dra. Vicki Belo; apologizes to Nancy Castiglione
- Mark Bautista remains friends with Piolo Pascual after being involved in the actor's breakup with KC Concepcion
- PEP SPECIAL REPORT PART I: Why the marriage of Kris Aquino and James Yap was declared null and void
- Is it over between Dra. Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho, Jr?
- Part 2 Ynna Asistio to Annabelle Rama: "Bakit napakahirap na pakawalan kami kung talagang ayaw mo sa amin at ipinilit lang kami ng nanay ko sa iyo?"
- Director Mac Alejandre talks about his four-year contract with TV5 and reveals the real reason he left GMA-7
Advertisement
