Re-electionist Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero . Cathy Miranda/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – He has been accused of being gay, a drug addict, a drunkard, womanizer and uncouth but re-electionist Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said no one could say he’s a “thief.”
“Marami ng inakusa sa akin sa buhay ko noong una akong tumakbo— adik, lasengo, bastos, walang modo, bakla, babaero – lahat yan pinagdaanan ko [I have been accused of many things when I first ran – addict, drunkard, uncouth, gay, womanizer – I went through all of these. But nobody can say that I’m a thief],” Escudero said in an interview with INQUIRER.net
Wednesday.
“Wala pang nagsabi at walang pwedeng magsabi na magnanakaw or nagnanakaw ako dahil mauubos yung perang yun at pag wala ka na sa pwesto, paano ka na mabubuhay kung nasanay ka nun [No one has said and could not say that I’m a thief or that I’m stealing because when you’re no longer holding a post, all your money will be gone and how can you live without it? That, I learned from my father],” said Escudero who appeared on INQuest: Vote 2013, a series of interviews on senatorial and local candidates as a run-up to the mid-term elections in May.
Escudero’s father was former Sorsogon Representative Salvador “Sonny” Escudero III, who died of cancer in August 2012.
He said his father, who also served as agriculture chief during the time of former Presidents Ferdinand Marcos and Fidel Ramos, taught them how to live a simple life, noting that “nothing is permanent in this world.”
“In so far as my father’s concerned, it’s one thing and I learned this way back in 1986 after the EDSA revolution. He actually told me and I actually saw it happen that nothing is permanent in this world,” said the senator.
“Whatever position you’re holding or handling right now, that will not last forever. If you say you’re president, if you say you’re senator, you’re a congressman, you’re a mayor, a governor, — that will not last forever. Better be sure that the people you meet on your way up, will be still smiling at you if you meet the same people on your way down.”
So when the Marcos regime was toppled by people power revolution, the young Escudero said his family continued to live a normal life unlike the families of other officials of the late strongman, who had lived in fear after they stepped down from their posts.
“Marami kaming kaibigang nawala noon, unti-unting bumalik paglipas ng panahon but that thought me a valuable lesson. You should always live simply. You can’t live arrogantly and masyadong high and mighty because these things will not last. It will disappear,” he said.
“One good and valuable lesson I learned that’s why I always live the way I did. Some people insult me for it but with my head held up high, at least my kids would be proud of me,” he added.