‘UNA never invites me in its sorties’—Escudero

Senator Francis Escudero. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – He may be part of the senatorial slate of the United Nationalist Alliance  (UNA) but Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said  he has never  been invited by the  group to any of its sorties.

Escudero, who is  officially running  under the Liberal  Party-led coalition, aired this sentiment when  asked on Tuesday about the coalition’s warning to its candidates, who were also adopted by UNA,  against joining the latter’s sorties.

“(I am) not aware of it. But I don’t think it’s an issue,” he said of the LP’s warning.

“Hindi din naman ako iniimbitahan o sinasabihan ng UNA sa sorties e (Una hasn’t invited me or informed me of its sorties),” Escudero added.

Aside from Escudero, the two LP candidates , who were  also  adopted by UNA , are  Senator Loren Legarda,  and former Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chairperson Grace Poe-Llamanzares.

Legarda did not say if the LP had indeed prevented her from joining UNA sorties as she  also refused to say if she would campaign exclusively with the administration team.

“I will go on an environmental campaign with disaster reduction risk workshops and climate change lectures for local communities,” she said  when asked about the LP’s warning.

Asked if she was then planning a solo campaign and join some LP sorties, Legarda said: “(I) will play it by ear. I cannot go to noisy rallies due to vertigo. Doctors have advised me to avoid noisy gatherings.”