DIGOS CITY, Davao Del Sur — Senator Francis Escudero on Tuesday said he would be open to teaming up with former President Joseph Estrada for the 2010 elections but not to a tandem with Senator Manny Villar in 2010.

Escudero, who was guest of honor during the city's 9th founding anniversary, however, clarified that he was not making any formal announcement about his intentions for higher office before his 40th birthday.

"When I reach 40, my decision will be made known," he told reporters here in Filipino.

But if ever he made up his mind, Escudero said there was zero probability of him teaming up with Villar due to the C-5 double funding controversy the former Senate president was embroiled in.

Escudero declared his commitment to good governance and added he would not tarnish such a pledge by associating with Villar whose involvement in the anomaly has become clear.

"Based on the evidence I saw, based on the (pieces of) evidence presented to the Senate in connection with the C-5 controversy, the case against him is strong," he said.

Escudero said his conscience would not allow him to team up with Villar.
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He said he would rather run with former president Joseph Estrada, who supported his candidacy for the Senate in 2007.

Estrada was convicted of plunder in September 2007 and he accepted a grant of pardon from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo a month later that freed him from a 20-year prison term.

But for Escudero, "Anuman ang hugis, anuman ang hitsura, ano man ang porma ang importante magkasama sana kami (Whatever the shape, look, and form of the team-up, what would be important is we are together)," Escudero said.

He said like Estrada, he also wanted the opposition to unite so agreeing to an Estrada-Escudero tandem would help.

"We have the same vision and that is to unite the opposition," he said.

Escudero said Estrada had worked hard for Mindanao and the former president returning to Malacañang would help him realize his dream for the island.

"He showed his help to Mindanao when he was still president. It's only fair that he continues it," he said.