Unlike in love, Escudero isn’t torn between 2 parties for 2013 polls

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero raised the possibility on Tuesday that he could be a ‘common’ candidate of two administration groups in the 2013 senatorial elections.

Escudero supported both President Benigno Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay during the 2010 elections and the two are now reportedly fielding their own respective senatorial slates  for 2013.

“In the last election I supported both the President and the Vice President. I have not yet arrived at a decision under which particular party or coalition I’ll be running under,” he said during a press conference in Quezon City.

Besides, the senator said, no one from both camps has offered him to be part of their tickets.

“Hindi naman parang pag-ibig yan na kailangan mong pagpilian. Hindi naman pag ibig o puso ang pinag uusapan dito (This is not like love where you have to make a choice. We’re not talking of love or heart here),” Escudero said when asked if he was torn between Aquino and  Binay.

“Isa itong pagkataon, hindi naman malayo at posibleng magkaroon ng common candidate ang ibat ibang slate. Nangyari na yan sa ibang nagdaang eleksyon (This is an opportunity—and this is not farfetched and it’s possible for various slates to have a common candidate),” he pointed out.

He then cited the cases of Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. who were both carried by various political groups in the last election.

But Escudero did not also rule out the possibility that Aquino and Binay could reach an agreement to have a common slate.

“I think it’s possible. Hindi naman magkaaway si Pangulong Aquino at Vice President Binay (President Aquino and Vice President Binay are not at odds with each other),” the senator added.

Aquino is chairman of the ruling Liberal Party while Binay is founding head of PDP-Laban.