Escudero still undecided on support for Roxas in 2016

After dumping him in 2010, is Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero now ready to support Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas if the latter becomes the administration coalition’s presidential bet in 2016?

“Kelangan ko munang magdesisyon ng papel na gagampanan ko sa 2016 bago ko pagdesisyunan ang ibang tao (I have to decide first on the role that I would take in 2016 before deciding on other people),” Escudero said when asked this question in an interview in Quezon City on Friday.

Escudero was part of the Liberal Party-led coalition when he ran and won in the 2013 elections. LP is now rooting for Roxas to be its bet in next year’s presidential race.

While he endorsed President Benigno Aquino III in 2010, the senator ditched Aquino’s running mate, Roxas, in favor of Jejomar Binay, who won the vice presidential race.

But Escudero said what happened in 2010 was not an issue now, saying “past is past.”

In fact, the senator said he already agreed to meet with Roxas, along with President Aquino III and Sen. Grace Poe, to discuss the 2016 elections.

It was Aquino who wanted the two senators to meet with Roxas before announcing his presidential bet in 2016. The President expressed this desire when he met the two senators  in Malacanang  Thursday.

“Nag-uusap naman kami kahit wala pang ganitong uri ng imbitasyon (We’ve been talking to each other even without this invitation) ,”  Escudero said of Roxas.

READ: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/656396/escudero-renewing-friendship-with-roxas

“Wala naman kaming pinag awayan, hindi ko naman sya inaway. Nagkataon lang na iba ang sinuportahan ko noon (We didn’t fight, I didn’t fight him. I just so happened that I supported another candidate),” he added.

Asked if he had regrets endorsing Binay over Roxas,  Escudero said: “Hindi naman. Sabay-sabay naman nating nalaman unti-unti yung mga bagay-bagay na lumabas ngayon so noong panahon na yun, wala namang nakakaalam at wala namang lumalabas na ganung uri ng ebidensya laban  sa kanya (I don’t have regrets endorsing Binay over Roxas. We’ve learned of the issues and accusations against Binay only now. They have not surfaced before.)”

He was referring to the corruption allegations in relation to the alleged overpricing of the Makati Parking Building being hurled at Binay in the ongoing investigation by the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee. AU