MANILA, Philippines?Opposition Sen. Francis Escudero Wednesday rearranged the political landscape ahead of the May 2010 elections by resigning from the Nationalist People?s Coalition (NPC), the party founded by business tycoon Eduardo ?Danding? Cojuangco Jr.

?I am leaving my party because I believe that I can fulfill the role that I am bound to play in connection with the coming elections ? not as a member of any party or a companion of any person, but as just me,? Escudero announced at the historic Club Filipino in San Juan City.

The announcement came after Escudero failed to convince Cojuangco, NPC chair emeritus and chair of San Miguel Corp., to bankroll his presidential candidacy in talks early this week.

?This should be the first test of leadership of any putative candidate?for him to decide on his own and take full responsibility for the decision whether or not to run and what position to run for,? Escudero said at a press conference.

But to the consternation of his mostly young supporters who turned up at Club Filipino despite the belated advisory, the lawmaker from Bicol deferred the announcement of his plans for the 2010 elections.

Escudero asked his supporters to give him time to decide what to do next. ?I will freely decide on my own, just give more time because it?s only now that I can rest from all of these.?

But Escudero did not leave the NPC?the party that carried him to victory since he run for representative of Sorsogon in 1998?without unloading his frustrations.

?Whoever will run or will become president of the country can?t fulfill all the things that he should do ? when his hands and feet are shackled, his eyes are blindfolded and mouth gagged,? he said in Filipino.

Dictates of single group

?And he can?t decide on the basis of the dictates of the interest of a single group, party or person,? Escudero said.

Escudero?s decision to abandon ship left the NPC without a standard-bearer a month before the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy.

This took everyone by surprise, causing party mates to convene an emergency meeting at the NPC Clubhouse in New Manila sudivision, Quezon City, hours after Escudero?s announcement.

Open to all options

In his speech at Club Filipino, Escudero wasn?t clear if he would still throw his hat into the ring.

However, he said, when asked later by a reporter, that he was ready to ?serve in a higher capacity.?

He denied that there was a simmering tension between him and Sen. Loren Legarda, an NPC member seeking the vice presidency. ?I have no problems with Loren,? he said.

Asked if he could slide down to the vice presidential post, Escudero said: ?I?m open to all options.?

Rise to national prominence

Elected to the Senate in 2007 after serving three terms as minority leader in the House of Representatives, Escudero, who turned 40 on Oct. 10, has three more years left in his six-year term.

His rise to national prominence followed his pivotal role as leader of two of the four impeachment drives against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

His charisma and debating prowess as a lawyer?captured by national TV every time he stood on the floor of the House?were attributes which endeared him to the youth.

His election in 2007 also saw the rise to the upper chamber of three House colleagues?opposition Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Benigno ?Noynoy? Aquino III, and administration ally Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri.

No party affiliation

Escudero cited three reasons for the surprise announcement before a jampacked crowd of allies and supporters, who include the group identified with the late opposition presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. and detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

?Whoever is planning to run for president of the country should have no allegiance to any party?NPC, LP, PMP, Lakas or whatever. The party that anyone is aspiring to run under should be none other than the Philippines, and his party mates should be all Filipinos,? Escudero said, drawing applause from the crowd.

He pointed out that only a united citizenry, and not a single party or group, could solve the many deep-seated problems of the country.

Parties obstacles to change

Second, he said political parties had become obstacles to genuine and meaningful change.

If a presidential candidate is beholden to his party, ?how can he make crooked government officials accountable if he belongs to the same party?? Escudero said.

?I want to prove to you and to myself that I am doing this for the right reason, not for any interest. Not for just anyone, but for you and for the motherland,? he said.

Lacson, Grace Poe

A member of Escudero?s inner circle told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Escudero was considering a presidential candidacy as an independent, but several of his campaign strategists raised the possibility of running in tandem with either Sen. Panfilo Lacson or Poe?s daughter Grace Poe.

Ping?s role

Rumors that Escudero had already joined forces with Lacson seemed to have been validated when Banayo, Lacson publicist, showed up at Club Filipino.

Banayo, who joined Escudero?s camp two months ago, confirmed to reporters that Escudero called up Lacson minutes before his announcement Wednesday.

Lacson, however, had earlier said he was supporting the presidential bid of Senator Aquino.

The absence of NPC stalwarts at Club Filipino proved that all was not well within the party.

Neither Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco (a son of the NPC emeritus chair), who was present at the announcement of Legarda?s vice presidential bid on Friday, nor party chair Faustino Dy, president Frisco San Juan and secretary general Jack Duavit were present.

Besides his young supporters, only Escudero?s close friend, An-Waray Rep. Florencio ?Bem? Noel, and former PNP chief Avelino Razon, who as a new NPC recruit is gunning for the mayoral seat of Manila, turned up to join Escudero in what could be one of his saddest moments in his political career.

Agonized over decision

?It was a very painful decision for him. But in the end, it was a decision that had to be made because his brand of politics?people politics?would eventually contradict party politics,? Banayo, Escudero?s campaign manager and strategist, said after Escudero left the hall.

Banayo said it was a decision that Escudero had ?agonized? over in the past weeks and months.

?Chiz did not want to be saddled by the compromises that go with party politics. To be able to institute genuine change and reforms in this country, one must find the courage to go beyond party politics. What he will do now is bring his platform of change directly to the people, especially the youth,? he said.