How does Sen. Escudero ‘miss’ Secretary Roxas? Let us count the ways…

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero must be missing his rival, former Senator and now Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas, that he wants to see the latter in Senate hearings.

“Buti pinayagan ka ni Mar na mag attend. Isama mo minsan (It’s a good thing Sec. Roxas allowed you to attend. Try to bring him here soon),” Escudero told a representative from the Department of Transportation and Communication during the hearing of the Senate committee on environment on Tuesday.

Escudero and Roxas had been at odds when the former campaigned for Vice President Jejomar Binay during the 2010 elections.

Asked about his comments after the hearing, Escudero immediately clarified that he was just joking and that he had no animosity with Roxas.

But it was not the first time that the rivalry had been used as a joke in the Senate.

When Roxas was seeking the confirmation of the powerful Commission on Appointments last week, Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada told a congressman endorsing the nominee to speed up his speech before Escudero could arrive and block the nomination.

Escudero was notably absent in the hearing while Roxas’ opponent in the 2010 vice presidential race, Senator Loren Legarda, personally endorsed the nominee.

Asked about his absence in the CA hearing, Escudero said he was just in the Senate building but saw no reason to participate in the proceeding since he had already expressed his support for Roxas.

“I already expressed my support for him,” said Escudero, adding there was no conscious effort to keep his distance from him former colleague.

“In fact, we expect to work closely with him especially with the committee on environment,” he added.

Asked about his relationship with Roxas, Escudero said, “Ok naman, Hindi kami close pero (We’re OK but we’re not close…)” followed by a hearty laugh.

Escudero dismissed talks of a possible face-off with Roxas in the 2016 presidential race.

“Hindi, matagal at malayo pa yun (That’s still too far-fetched from now),” he said.