Escudero asked to pick between Binay, Roxas; says ‘none of the above’
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
After endorsing Vice President Jejomar Binay in 2010, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said he could not imagine now working with him should both of them win in next year’s elections.
READ: Escudero: No regrets backing Binay in 2010 but…
The senator shared the same sentiment towards former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, who lost to Binay in the 2010 vice presidential race.
Escudero could not pick between Binay and Roxas, who are both running for president in 2016, when asked in an interview Tuesday over ABS-CBN’s morning show “Umagang Kay Ganda,” whom he would prefer to work with in case he wins in next year’s vice presidential race.
“Parang pwede bang ‘E’, (May I choose “E) none of the above?” he said.
Asked specifically if he was ready to work with Roxas, “Parang hindi ko ma-picture,” said Escudero followed by a hearty laugh.
(I cannot picture it.)
But the senator denied that they had any conflict or misunderstanding, saying they just probably had different views on issues and that they belong to different groups.
“Mula 2009 siguro nung huli kaming aktwal na nagkausap nang ganito. Pero wala naman kaming pinag-awayan,” Escudero said, still referring to Roxas.
(It was in 2009 that we actually spoke to each other like this. But we have no conflict.)
When also asked if he was willing to work with Binay, Escudero said: “Hindi ko rin alam. ‘Di ko ma-imagine. Parang ang hirap imagine-in kasi ini-imagine ko lang kahit sa panaginip si Senator Grace (Poe) yung mananalo e.”
(I don’t know as well. I can’t imagine. It seems too difficult to imagine because I can imagine even in my dreams that Senator Grace will win.)
READ: It’s Grace Poe-Chiz Escudero for 2016
Poe and Escudero will run together in 2016 as president and vice president, respectively.
Like with Roxas, Escudero also denied any conflicts between him and the Vice President.
“Wala din. Gaya nga nang sabi ko kanina, bigla na lang mahirap siyang tawagan so, wala lang,” he said.
(We have no conflict as well. As I said earlier, all of a sudden he was difficult to contact.)
Asked if he had any ill feelings towards Binay, the senator answered in the negative, noting they just probably had a gap.
Reminded that he supported Binay’s vice presidential bid in 2010, Escudero said: “Oo, pero walang pinag-awayan din kahit tanungin niyo si Vice President Binay. Walang pinag-awayan, walang diskusyon, walang debate. Siguro nagkalayo lang talaga.”
(Yes, but we had no conflict even if you ask Vice President Binay. There was no conflict, no argument, no debate. Maybe we just drifted apart.)
However, Escudero noted that in 2013, Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance dropped him, Poe, and Senator Loren Legarda in its senatorial ticket.
The three senators ran and won in the 2013 senatorial race under the Liberal Party-led coalition of the administration. Maila Ager/RAM
