Escudero: I didn’t know I could send representative to UNA proclamation rally

Senator Francis Escudero. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

BATANGAS CITY, Philippines—Sen. Francis Escudero said Wednesday he did not know that common candidates who could not make it to the United Nationalist Alliance’s proclamation rally in Cebu on Tuesday could send representatives to the kick-off activity.

Escudero gave the explanation because his absence from UNA’s rally was made more conspicuous by the presence of representatives sent by Loren Legarda and Grace Poe, both of whom, like Escudero, are candidates on both the administration PNoy Team and UNA senatorial slates.

“I didn’t know one could send representatives,” said Escudero, who returned from vacation just before the start of the official campaign period on Tuesday.

Trying to make light of the situation, Escudero said he no longer had a father while his eldest child was still too young at five years old to speak for him at the UNA  rally.

Legarda sent her father while Poe sent a child.

All three common candidates opted to attend the administration coalition’s proclamation rally at Plaza Miranda in Manila instead of UNA rally in Cebu.

“The campaign has just started. Sooner or later, we’ll also be together in one place,” Escudero said.

Escudero would not comment on remarks attributed to the UNA camp that he might be dropped from the UNA lineup.