Senator Francis Escudero. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The fact that President Benigno Aquino III has been meeting with other possible bets was an indication that he has not decided yet whom to support in the 2016 presidential election, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Friday.
To be more specific, Escudero said the President made no clear message, when he and Senator Grace Poe met with him in Malacañang Thursday, that he was set on endorsing the possible presidential bid of Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
READ: Aquino asks Poe, Escudero for a meeting with Roxas
Roxas has not publicly declared yet his plans in 2016 but Aquino’s Liberal Party has been pushing for his candidacy.
READ: Belmonte to Roxas: Don’t wait for Aquino’s blessing
“Wala namang ganung kalinaw dahil the mere fact na kinakusap kami at wala pa s’yang iniindorso, siguro patunay na ‘yun na wala pa talaga s’yang pasya sa kanyang kaisipan,” Escudero said over Radyo Inquirer when asked if the President indicated that Roxas would be his bet in next year’s elections.
(Things are not that clear yet, because the mere fact that he still talked to us and he has yet to make an endorsement is proof that he has not decided yet.)
“Dahil kung buo na ang kanyang kasipan bakit pa po nya kailangang makipagpulong sa ibang tao at bakit kailangan pa po n’yang lumabas sa kanyang partido?”
(If his mind is really made up, why would he meet with other people even the ones who do not belong to his party?)
“Maliwanag naman siguro ‘yun dahil kung talagang buo na ang kanyang kaisipan matagal na sana s’yang nag-endorso pero s’ya mismo pinagpaliban ang kanyang pagpili at pag endorso ng kanyang kandidato,” the senator added.
(It’s quite clear that if he has made up his mind, he should have announced his endorsement long ago, but he has delayed choosing and endorsing his bet)
Asked if he and Poe would be the President’s alternatives, Escudero pointed out that they are both independents and not part of the LP.
He said Aquino made no specific offer either to him and Poe when they met but said the President made an appeal to keep the administration coalition intact by supporting a common candidate next year.
Escudero said Aquino also requested for another meeting with him, Poe, and Roxas.
READ: Aquino asks Poe, Escudero for a meeting with Roxas
“Hindi naman po kami tumanggi ni Senator Poe kaugnay n’yan (Senator Poe and I are not opposed to that),” he said. IDL