Escudero in no rush to announce his 2016 plans

By: Maila Ager - 11 years ago

Sen. Francis Escudero INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – His announcement about his wedding may come first before his plans for 2016, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said in jest on Wednesday.

Escudero said he has no plan to join the bandwagon of politicians who have either declared their intention to run for president in 2016 or those whose names have already been floated by their party-mates.

“Aba, ewan ko, dahil ang sabi ko wala akong balak na sabayan ang sinumang maagang nagdedeklara kaugnay ng mga plano sa 2016, kung meron man o wala,” he told reporters in a phone patch interview when asked if a presidential contender may also come from independent politicians like him .

(I don’t know because as I said, I have no plan to join anyone who has declared early his plans for 2016, if there is any plan or not)

Asked then if his statement meant that he would just delay his declaration of any possible run in the next elections, the senator reiterated that he has no plans to declare his plans yet, and that is in the event that he has any.

Asked again if his announcement of any wedding plan might come first, he said in jest, “’Yun pwede pa.”

Escudero had earlier confirmed discussing marriage with girlfriend, actress Heart Evangelista.

Among those who have so far declared their intention to run for president were Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.

Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas’ inclusion in the presidential race has also been floated by members of the administration’s Liberal Party (LP), while Escudero’s name has been mentioned in the news as a possible contender in 2016.

Escudero, however, did not discount the possibility that other members of the ruling coalition aside from Roxas might emerge as its presidential bet.

He specifically pointed to Cayetano, who belongs to the Nacionalista Party that has existing alliance with the LP since the 2013 elections.

Escudero said Cayetano might not be part of the LP, but he is still part of the administration coalition.

“…Maari pa ring magbago at malaking pagbabago pa rin ang pwedeng mangyari,” the senator added.