Former Escudero ally Osmeña backs rival Robredo’s campaign

Sen. Francis Escudero and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo. CDN and INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

The person who previously helped vice presidential bet Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero is now helping the campaign of his rival, Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo.

Senator Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III disclosed on Tuesday that he is advising Robredo, who sought his help as early as last year when she was initially thinking of running for senator in 2016.

“I committed to help Leni last year pa (as early as last year) when she told me she might run for the Senate. She asked me if I could help her and now that she’s running for vice president…” said Osmeña, who helped Escudero when the latter ran and won a Senate seat for the first time in 2007.

READ: ‘Leni Robredo will beat Escudero’ for VP, says Osmeña

Osmeña said he is helping Robredo develop her message and outline her strategy and that he is also teaching her “some tactics” that would be useful in her campaign.

“She’s quite silent yet because hindi pa hasa sa (still not an expert in the) national campaign. She’s been actually used to local campaigns because her husband was mayor of Naga five times, but she’ll get there and she has a very good campaign manager in Senator Bam Aquino…” he said, referring to Robredo’s late husband, former Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Osmeña also expressed confidence that Robredo’s ratings would improve soon.

“Yes, definitely. We’re seeing that her numbers will go up hopefully by that time her first TV commercial comes out,” he said.

Asked what he thinks would be Robredo’s edge over her rivals, Osmeña said: “Well, her edge is that she has a narrative. She was a partner in the saga of Jesse Robredo, she was a partner in the installation of good governance in the City of Naga.”

READ: In the Know: Jesse Robredo’s widow also rises

In the presidential race, Osmeña said he would also help Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte if the latter decides to run for president.

“Yes, I’ll help Duterte if he runs,” said the senator.

“I think among all the candidates, Mayor Duterte would be the one who could be very, very effective in carrying out the programs of government because he has shown that he can make it work, he has shown that he can deliver, he has shown that he can bring down criminality, he has shown that he can make the people obey the law.”

READ: Sen. Osmeña: Duterte may be a ‘Mayweather,’ is a ‘male-Miriam’

“Of course, people will say medyo (that he is quite) heavy-handed sya, sometimes I think that Mayor Duterte just talks tough so that he will scare the criminals into leaving Davao City and I think that he has been successful,” Osmeña said.

Asked if there are presidential bets who have already adopted him to be their guest candidate, the senator said: “No, I’m an orphan I’ve been adopted by the Filipino people… I’m very happy.” CDG