Escudero scoffs at premature ‘political shopping’

MANILA, Philippines—Instead of engaging in “political shopping,” Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero urged everyone to address the more pressing issues confronting the country like power crisis, unabated gas price increases and the impending tuition hikes.

Escudero, who is seeking re-election in 2013, issued the statement on Wednesday as discussions on political alignments for next year’s senatorial race started to heat up in the media.

“Alliances are political certainties and there is rhyme and reason to that. The polls may be already next year but personally I think it’s not yet the right time to be busy about political shopping,” he said in a statement.

“There are much more important issues that need attention and action like the power crisis, continuing gas price surge and the impending tuition increases as schools open again in the next few months,” he added.

Escudero said much had already been waylaid and disrupted in the legislative work of both chambers of Congress by the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

There is a need, he said, to catch up with priorities that yield tangible and immediate gains for the people like jobs, food for the table and roofs over their heads.

“There is always the right timing to talk politics. It is inevitable yes, but this should take a backseat because we have many pressing issues to take care of and these are unavoidable issues that hit people in their guts,” the senator pointed out.

Escudero has been named included in the senatorial tickets of both the administration’s Liberal Party and the newly-formed coalition “The United Alliance” or UNA of Vice President Jejomar Binay and former president Joseph Estrada.