Escudero answerable to Poe’s DQ case, says political analyst

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero had a big responsibility in the disqualification of Senator Grace Poe by the Commission on Elections at the 2016 presidential race, said political analyst Joey Sindayen Pinalas early Sunday in an interview on “Isyu Ng Bayan” on Radyo Inquirer.

“Huwag na magturo at manisi ng ibang tao si Senator Chiz Escudero. Maliban sa pagiging campaign strategist ni Grace, si Chiz ay abogado at meron siyang sariling law firm, at siguradong marami siyang kaalyadong abogadong tumutulong,”
said Pinalas, a professor teaching socio-political thought and philosophy of politics subjects at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

(Senator Chiz Escudero shoudn’t point fingers and blame other people. Besides being a campaign strategist of Grace, Chis is a lawyer and he has his own law firm. And for sure he has a lot of allies who are lawyers.)

“Hindi dapat niya ipinasok si Senator Poe sa alanganing sitwasyon na maaaring madiskwalipika ang senador,” added Pinalas.

(He shouldn’t put Senator Poe in an awkward situation wherein she could be disqualified.)

Pinalas pointed out this could fuel the fire with regards the motivation and determination of Escudero in pushing for the tandem with Poe.

“Dahil sa nangyaring disqualification kay Grace, hindi natin maiaalis na mayroong tamang duda at ispekulasyon sa mga galaw ni Escudero. Sadyang maraming katanungan at kuro kuro. Obvious na pinilit ni Chiz ang Poe-Escudero tandem kahit nung una pa ay lumitaw na ang usaping citizenship at residency. Pero pag susuriin mo ang mga galaw ni Chiz, pabor sa kanya ang nangyayari,” he said.

(Because of Grace’s disqualification, we can’t deny the speculation and doubt on the moves of Escudero. There are so many questions and comments. It’s obvious that Chiz pushed for Poe-Escudero tandem even though from the start, the arguments on her citizenship and residency have been brought up. But if you analyze Chiz’s moves, the situation seems favorable to him.)

“Kung manalo silang dalawa at sa malaon napatunayan sa Korte Suprema na hindi natural born si Grace at kulang sa residency requirements, eh di magiging presidente si Chiz.”

(If both of them will win and later on the Supreme Court will have proved that Grace is not natural born and lacking in residency requirements, then Chiz will become President.)

Pinalas said he was not surprised of the reported lunch meeting of Escudero and Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“Si Chiz ang isa sa mga arkitekto ng NoyBi o Aquino-Binay coalition nung 2010 na kung saan tinalo ni VP Binay si Mar Roxas. Ilang linggo bago lumabas ang DQ ni Grace, nagkita at nananghalian sila Chiz at VP. Eto ba ay di sinasadya o mayroon talagang namuong usapan sakaling madiskwalipika si Grace.”

(Chiz is one of the architects of NoyBi or Aquino-Binay coalition in 2010 wherein VP Binay beat Mar Roxas. A few weeks before the disqualification of Grace came out, Chiz and VP met for lunch. Was this not intentional or there were talks just in case Grace will be disqualified.)

Pinalas said this “Trojan Horse Politics” is the kind of politics that Escudero plays because of his wanton and subtle moves.

“Kung matatandaan natin, habang lider siya ng opposition sa Congress noong araw at tagapagsalita ni FPJ o Fernando Poe Jr., lumabas ang balitang tumanggap pa din siya ng pork barrel kay dating President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.”

(If we remember, while he was leader of the opposition in Congress and at the same time spokesperson of Fernando Poe Jr., there were reports that he was still receiving pork barrel from then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.)

“Nung 2010, lumabas din ang balitang siya ang tinutukoy na ‘Trojan horse’ na batang presidential wannabe na nakipagpulong pa mismo kay pangulong Arroyo upang tulungan siyang tumakbo sa pagka pangulo.”

(In 2010, there were also news about the ‘Trojan Horse’ of a young presidential wannabe who met up with President Arroyo to help him run for President.)

“Joseph Estrada, Gloria Arroyo, Danding Cojuangco, Mar Roxas, Serge Osmeña, Ping Lacson, Manny Villar, Noynoy Aquino, Jejomar Binay, lahat sila tumulong kay Chiz upang umangat sa pulitika at sa malaon maging presidentiable. Pero lahat sila tinalikuran niya o inaway niya. Ano naman ang kahihinatnan kaya ni Senator Poe dahil sa ka tandem niyang si Senator Escudero? Abangan na lang natin,” Pinales added.

(Joseph Estrada, Gloria Arroyo, Danding Cojuangco, Mar Roxas, Serge Osmeña, Ping Lacson, Manny Villar, Noynoy Aquino, Jejomar Binay, all of them helped Chiz push his political career and eventually a presidentiable. But Chiz later on turned his back on them or attacked them. What do you think will happen to Senator Poe because of his tandem with Senator Escudero? Let us wait and see.)