Robredo pushes for ex-VP rival Escudero’s Senate return

Sorsogon Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero during a campaign rally with the tandem of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis Pangilinan at the Sorsogon Gymnasium on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022. Photo from Escudero’s office.

MANILA, Philippines — Owing to a debt of gratitude, Vice President Leni Robredo urged voters to bring Sorsogon Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, her former rival in the 2016 elections, back to the Senate.

Robredo defeated Escudero and four other vice presidential contenders in 2016. She disclosed that Escudero reached out and offered his help to her and the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to find funding for its programs amid its limited budget allocation.

READ: Chiz Escudero concedes defeat in vice presidential race

Robredo is now running for president in the upcoming May polls.

READ: Robredo tours Camarines Norte, Sorsogon on second day of campaign

“Malaki po ang utang na loob ko kay Governor Chiz. Hindi niya po ito nakukwento pero noong ako ay naging vice president . . . tinulungan niya ang OVP,” Robredo said in Bicolano during a campaign rally in Sorsogon on Wednesday.

(I owe a debt of gratitude to Governor Chiz. He may not have told you this but when I won as vice president…he extended help to the OVP.)

“Hindi naman kaila na naglaban po kami ni Governor Chiz noong 2016 pero pagkapanalo ko, siya ang nag-reach out. Noong nagsisimula pa lang ako bilang VP, siya po ang tumulong sa opisina na makahanap ng mapagkukunan ng pondo para sa aming mga programa,” she added.

(We were rivals in 2016 but when I won, he reached out. When I was in the early stages of being the VP, he helped our office find funding sources for our programs.)

Escudero is among the guest senatorial candidates under Robredo’s tandem with vice presidential contender Senator Francis Pangilinan.

Robredo said the former senator can do more for the people if he is elected to serve in the upper chamber again.

“Ang pagbabalik niya sa Senado ay malaking bagay dahil noong siya ay senador pa, alam naman ng lahat na si Senator Chiz ay isa sa mga pinakamatibay na mambabatas. Actually, whether governor siya or senator, dahil sa kanyang mga nagawa, laging bentahe para sa ating bansa,” Robredo said.

(His return to the Senate will be a big deal because when he is still a senator, we know that Senator Chiz is one of the strongest lawmakers. Actually, whether he is a governor or senator, what he did benefited the country.)

Aside from the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem, Escudero’s candidaicy is also backed by the presidential and vice-presidential tandems of Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III, and Senator Manny Pacquiao and House Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza.

Vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has also expressed support for Escudero’s senatorial bid.

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