Senator Franchis “Chiz” Escudero of Galing at Puso during school visit at Mati Polytechnic College in Mati City.Davao Oriental.
ARNOLD ALMACEN
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte has dropped his father’s running mate, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, in favor of Sen. Francis Escudero, the running mate of Rodrigo Duterte’s rival in the presidential race, Sen. Grace Poe.
The elder Duterte said his son was free to decide for himself.
On Thursday, Vice Mayor Duterte met with Escudero here and issued a statement later in the day.
In the statement, Paolo Duterte said he was not bound by any group or his family’s decision as far as his preferred national candidates were concerned.
“I choose Sen. Chiz Escudero as my VP given that he has significantly helped the city through his infrastructure projects and scholarship programs and by contributing to the Lingap Para Sa Mahirap and the Davao House of Hope,” said the vice mayor.
“These, to me, are reasons enough to choose him,” he added.
In reaction, the elder Duterte said his son had freedom of choice.
“I do not control him or his politics,” said the mayor. “He is free to choose his own candidate. He is not under my keep. He is already 37 (years old).”
Vice Mayor Duterte admitted his decision to drop Cayetano in favor of Escudero ran counter to his family’s and party’s (Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod) choice of candidate but he was confident it would not be a source of friction.
Hugpong is the local party founded by his father, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Paolo’s siblings, Sara and Sebastian, are actively campaigning for Cayetano, however.
“I think they would not take it against me,” said the vice mayor.
Reacting to Paolo’s statement, Escudero said in a text message that he appreciated the vice mayor’s decision.
“He is a true and sincere friend. I value our friendship, which goes beyond petty partisan politics,” Escudero said.
Last year, the younger Duterte chided Escudero for running with Poe since Paulo does not consider Poe to be a natural-born Filipino.
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