Escudero laughs off reports on ‘rumored rift’ with Poe

Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

Vice presidential bet Francis “Chiz” Escudero laughed off on Thursday fresh reports of any infighting between him and presidential aspirant Grace Poe and her husband allegedly over campaign finances.

“Not true. I haven’t asked for anything and GP (Poe’s initials) has been taking care of the campaign. Just helping out in whatever little way I can,” Escudero said in a text message.

He issued the statement when sought to react on Ramon Tulfo’s column in Philippine Daily Inquirer this Thursday about that he was supposedly complaining that he and senatorial bets of Partido Galing at Puso were not getting their fair share of campaign contributions.

READ: Rumored rift between Grace and Chiz

“Kami na ang pinaka-close sa lahat ng magka-tandem. Napaka-dami na naming pinag-daanan. Hindi nila mababasag ang aming pagkakaibigan, samahan at tandem sa maliliit na intriga tulad nito,” Escudero said of Poe.

(We are the closest among the tandems. We have gone through a lot. They cannot break our friendship, out alliance and our tandem over a rumor like this.)

The column also mentioned about Poe’s husband, Neil Llamanzares, who is allegedly a “tightwad” when it comes to sharing the campaign budget with her running mate.

Escudero also denied any conflict with Llamanzares.

“Just saw him and was with him lang (just) the other night,” he said, referring to Llamanzares. CDG