"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.

An NPC member, who asked not to be identified, said Danding Cojuangco will only provide up to P200 million for Escudero's presidential campaign. Campaign analysts say a nationwide campaign needs at least P2 billion funding to succeed.

Another NPC member has put forth claims that Danding is leaning over to his nephew Sen. Noynoy Aquino's side.

There were also rumors that Escudero quit NPC because Cojuangco was allegedly fielding his money to other presidential aspirants, like Sen. Manny Villar, and his nephews Noynoy and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

A top official of a former senatorial candidate told PEP that business tycoons usually fund the campaign of not one but several candidates for top positions in the government, "just to be sure."

"Pero siyempre mas malaki dun sa manok nila," the source added.

FALSE CLAIMS. But the father of Escudero, who was also present at the press conference, said the allegations were "mere speculation."

Chiz Escudero also denied that money was the reason for his resignation, saying he resigned out of "principle."

"Wala ring katotohanan na may kaugnayan sa pondo dahil marunong akong mabuhay at mamuhay na simple. Pangalawa, hindi naman akin ano man meron siya [Danding] para angkinin ko. Nagpaalam ako nang maayos. Prinsipyo ang tanging dahilan," Escudero said in an interview with ABS-CBN's TV Patrol World Wednesday night.

Regarding his next plans, Escudero hinted at the presscon that he is also willing to even halt running in any position in the 2010 elections.

"Bukas lahat ng aking loob sa ngayon, kabilang ang hindi paglahok kung saka-sakali," he said. Escudero's term in the Senate will end in 2013.