Escudero laughs off rumored fistfight with Poe’s husband

Sen. Poe with Susan Roces, husband Neil Llamanzares singing national anthem in UP Bahay Alumni.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Vice presidential camdidate Francis “Chiz” Escudero laughed off on Thursday another rumor that he had a fistfight with the husband of his running mate, Senator Grace Poe.

“Hindi totoo. Matagal nang malapit kami ni Neil, Senator Grace at ang pamilya namin. Wala na ba silang maisip na ibang issue at intriga at pilit na lang nilang ginagamit at binabalikan…” Escudero said in an interview here.

(That’s not true. Neil, Senator Grace and my family have been close for a long time. Can’t they think of other issues or rumors that they keep using and going back to this?)

Neil is the nickname of Poe’s husband, Teodoro Misael Llamanzares.

“Noong una nagsigawan, sumunod nag-away. Ngayon, palapit na talaga ang eleksyon, sapakan na talaga,” Escudero said.

(First, it was shouting, then fighting. Now, when the election is drawing near, it has turned into a full-on fistfight.)

To prove that the rumor was not true, he noted that he did not have a single bruise on his face.

Escudero reiterated that he had no rift with Poe and her husband supposedly over campaign contributions.

“In fact, wala namang binibigay halos sa vice presidential candidate dahil hindi alam kung ano ang opisinang hahawakan. Kadalasan, kung sino man ang tumulong sa eleksyon, syempre deretso yan sa presidente,” he said.

“Si Senator Grace Poe ang bumabalikat ng gastusin pati na rin ng team Galing at Puso sa pag-iikot namin sa ibat ibang parte ng bansa kasama yung aming senatorial slate,” Escudero added.

(In fact, almost nothing is given to the vice presidential candidate because it is not known yet which office he will hold. Usually, whoever helps in the election, naturally, they go straight to the president.

Senator Grace Poe shoulders the finances, including those of team Galing at Puso as we make rounds in the different parts of the country with our senatorial slate.)

READ: Escudero laughs off reports on ‘rumored rift’ with Poe

Poe also laughed off the rumor.

“Naghahanap na naman kayo ng kwento na exciting sa kampanya na ito,” she said.

“Sabi ni Senator Chiz, kung totoo daw yun e di sigurado marami na daw pasa yung kalaban nya. Hindi po totoo, baligtad po, sya ang maraming pasa,” Poe said in jest.

(You’re just looking for another story to make this campaign exciting.

(Senator Chiz said, if that were true, for sure, his rival would be covered in bruises. It’s not true, he’s the one who’s badly bruised.) CDG

READ: Immigration case filed vs Poe husband