MANILA, Philippines ? The camp of Senator Benigno ?Noynoy? Aquino III is trying to get Senator Francis ?Chiz? Escudero on its side since both are advocating similar reforms for the country.

Aquino?s campaign manager, Florencio ?Butch? Abad, revealed this on Monday amid Escudero?s alleged impending declaration of his vice presidential bid anytime this week.

?We?re hoping na makakasama namin sya (Escudero). Reform din naman ang kanyang advocacy (We?re still hoping he can join us. He is also advocating for political reforms),? Abad said over the phone.

Asked if there were efforts to get Escudero on their side, he said, ?Magkaibigan sila (They are friends) They are in touch and communicating.?

Abad also revealed that Escudero had been offered the vice presidential post before by Senator Mar Roxas, who was then eyeing to run for president before stepping down to become Aquino?s running mate.

Abad could not say, however, what role Escudero would play should the latter agree to support Aquino?s bid.

After resigning from the Nationalist People?s Coalition, Escudero is now reportedly running for vice president as an independent candidate in next year?s elections.

But Aquino?s ally, Senator Francis ?Kiko? Pangilinan, said that running an independent campaign would be difficult this time.

?I ran an independent senatorial campaign then and I know the challenges that come with it. It was horribly difficult. An independent VP run will be even more so,? Pangilinan said in a statement.

?What applied in 2007 may not apply in 2010. Clearly, as surveys show, Filipinos are overwhelmingly supporting the Noy-Mar ticket,? he pointed out, referring to the Aquino-Roxas tandem.

Pangilinan led senatorial surveys in 2007 but said circumstances ?are now very different?.

?Had support in the polls been distributed evenly amongst four or five candidates, an independent run would stand a chance. But this was before Noynoy announced his bid. The field has changed dramatically with Noynoy?s entry, and senator Mar Roxas now has a wide margin against other VP hopefuls, he said.

Pangilinan said Aquino?s candidacy was ?unprecedented? and his strong support was pulling up Roxas? bid ?to the detriment of any other vice presidential bid, more so an independent VP campaign.?