Escudero wary of naming school after late father

Citing delicadeza, Sen. Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero (left) said he would not endorse a bill that seeks to name the Sorsogon State College after his father, the late-Rep. Salvador Escudero III (right). INQUIRER FILES

Even Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero is not keen on supporting a measure renaming a state university in Sorsogon province after his father.

“Out of delicadeza,” Escudero said he would not adopt a pending bill in Congress in its present form converting the Sorsogon State College (SSC) into a state university to be named after his father, late congressman Salvador Escudero III.

“I am throwing my support all the way for the conversion of this gem of an educational institution in my province. It has already earned its rightful place to be confirmed a university status by producing top-notch graduates who can compete globally. But I will not, during my term in the Senate, advocate to name a government project after my father or any relative for that matter,” Escudero said in a statement on Wednesday.

Instead, the senator will refer the proposal back to its original form, which proposes SSC’s university conversion to be known as Sorsogon State University.

“While our family appreciates the move of my late father’s colleagues in the lower house to name the Sorsogon College after him, I will not and cannot adopt the same as transmitted to the Senate for conflict of interest. I will refer the bill back to its original form as filed,” Escudero said.

The House Bill No. 6203 seeking to convert the Sorsogon State College into a state university was authored by the senator’s mother Rep. Evelina Escudero and Representatives Deogracias Ramos and Anthony Bravo.

During the period of amendments, House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas moved and got the majority’s support to endorse SSC’s conversion but to also name it after the late Congressman Escudero.

The SSC has been granted its present status from an arts and trades college through his father’s authorship in 1993.

“SSC has earned its stripes. It deserves to become a state university. To maintain objectivity and fairness to the public and its money entrusted to the government by way of taxes, SSC should be converted and should be rightfully named Sorsogon State University,” he added. CBB