Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero announced on Thursday (September 17) that he is officially running for vice president in next year’s elections.
He will run with presidential aspirant Sen. Grace Poe, who declared her bid on Wednesday.
Escudero made his declaration during a gathering with supporters at Club Filipino — the same venue where Manuel “Mar” Roxas II announced his presidential bid as the standard bearer of the Liberal Party (LP).
The senator begins the vice presidential race with a head start, as he is the first one to declare a bid for the second highest position in the land.
During the event, Escudero said that he and Poe will run as independent candidates: “Mananatili po kaming independent… Pilipinas po ang partido namin.”
“Tinatanggap ko, ng may buong tapang at pagpapa-kumbaba ang hamon ni Senator Grace Poe na maging katuwang niya sa landas niyang tatahakin bilang kanyang ikalawang pangulo,” Escudero said.
Roxas and United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) presidential aspirant, Vice President Jejomar Binay, have yet to announce their respective vice presidential bets.
Credentials cannot be measured by family name
“Escudero lamang ang apelyido ko. Hindi tulad ng Roxas [o] Osmeña,” the senator said.
Although his family name is not traditionally associated with political leadership, the senator said that no one should monopolize public service.
“Walang iisang tao ang pwedeng mag-angkin ng intensyon para pagsilbihan ang bayan”.
For her part, Poe mentioned that she has known Escudero for more than a decade.
“Noong 2003 pa lang na kasama na namin si Senator Chiz [Escudero].”
However, she clarified that she chose Escudero as her running mate because of his credentials, and not simply because of their friendship.
She mentioned Escudero’s accomplishments in early childhood education and in income tax-exempt minimum wage.
Likewise, Poe pointed out Escudero’s emergence as an opposition figure when reports surfaced of the Arroyo administration’s alleged electoral fraud in the 2004 elections.
“Hinidi natakot si Senator Chiz na maglahad ng katotohanan ukol sa nangyari nung 2004.”
Last July, Escudero resigned from his posts as chairman of the senate Finance Committee, and co-chairman of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Public Expenditures.
Escudero cited “public pronouncements regarding his possible candidacy for higher office” as reason for him to “give up the two powerful finance panels and spare the budget deliberation from possible misperception that he may use it to further his own political plans and actions”.
Even if he loses in next year’s elections, Escudero could continue to serve as senator, as his term for the legislative position ends in 2019.
Escudero was the spokesman of Poe’s father, the late Fernando Poe Jr., when he ran for President in 2004.
