Escudero confirms scheduled meet with Aquino

Sen. Francis Escudero. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

LOS ANGELES—Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Thursday confirmed he was scheduled to meet with President Benigno Aquino III next week.

READ: Aquino says he’ll meet with Escudero next

“I’m looking forward to our meeting,” said Escudero, who had made known that if he would run in next year’s elections, it would be for Vice President and not President.

Escudero said he and Sen. Grace Poe had been talking about possibilities in 2016 and that he would make plans based on Poe’s decision.

“Whatever she decides, I’ll be behind her,” Escudero told reporters at a community event in Los Angeles.

If he decides to run for higher office, it will be as an independent, he said.

“I have no plans of joining a party,” he said. “I can serve without being a member of any party.”

Escudero also ruled out running with any candidate, except Poe.

“I’m talking about running or not running only with Senator Poe,” he said.

Escudero and his wife, actress Heart Evangelista, arrived in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

They were scheduled to attend an Independence Day celebration of the Filipino-American community here on Friday.

The event is organized by a committee headed by Filipino-American community leader Darna Umayam.

Escudero said Independence Day was no longer just about freedom from colonizers. “It has a new definition: Freedom from poverty and freedom from the yoke of corruption and abuse by some government officials,” he said.

Escudero and Evangelista announced plans to have a baby next year.

READ: Heart Evangelista: ‘Definitely, I’ll have my baby next year’

They also confirmed that Escudero has reconciled with Evangelista’s parents, Reynaldo and Cecilia Ongpauco, at a recent get-together at the Escudero residence.

“No more recriminations,” Escudero said. “Nothing about the past.”

READ: Heart’s parents had dinner at Escudero home…without the Senator
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