Senators Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero. INQUIRER PHOTO
TACLOBAN CITY–It would be like déjà vu for Sen. Francis Escudero should he agree to be the running mate of Sen. Grace Poe in the 2016 polls.
He recalled that when he was spokesman of actor Fernando Poe Jr. during his presidential bid in 2004 elections, Escudero had to defend him from issues on residency, citizenship, lack of experience and lack of education – the same issues hounding his adopted daughter now.
Escudero admitted that he and Grace Poe had talked about the 2016 elections but no final decision had been reached.
READ: Poe ‘comfortable’ with Escudero as her VP
“But déjà vu para sa akin ito dahil 11 years ago, nang kandidato si FPJ, pinagtatangol ko din si FPJ sa issue sa residency, citizenship, kawalan ng karanasan at pagiging mangmang daw (But this will be like a déjà vu for me because 11 years ago when FPJ ran, I defended FPJ from issues on residency, citizenship, and lack of experience and knowledge),” Escudero told a news conference here on Friday.
The older Poe ran for president in 2004 but was defeated by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo amid allegations of massive vote-rigging.
“Ngayon, 11 years after, hindi sa ama kun’di sa anak. ‘Yun din ‘yung pinagtatanggol ko sa issue ng residency, citizenship, kakulangan sa karanasan at kakulangan daw ng kaalaman (Now, 11 years after, it is not the father but the daughter. I am defending her from the same issues of residency, citizenship, lack of experience and lack of knowledge),” the senator added.
He, however, said Poe has not decided on whether to run or not in the 2016 presidential elections.
Recent Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations surveys showed that Poe now leads the list of possible presidential candidates in 2016.
READ: SWS: Grace Poe tops Binay as most preferred Aquino successor | Poe zooms past Binay
While he ranked second to Poe among probable vice presidential contenders, Escudero said he had not made up his plans for 2016.
He, however, admitted that he was elated by the latest survey results.
“But it is just a survey,” he added.
“Sino man ang mataas ‘di dapat magmataas or magmalaki. Kung sino man ang mababa or bumaba, ‘di dapat mag-alburoto (Whoever got a high rating should not be arrogant or boastful. Whoever got a low or lower rating should not be upset),” he added.
“Ang boto pa rin sa araw ng halalan ang binibilang hindi boto sa survey. Hayaan na lang natin ito na maging giya kung ano ang magiging pasya nila sa 2016 (The votes garnered during elections are the ones that count and not the votes in surveys. Survey results should be used only as a guide on their decision for 2016),” Escudero said. IDL