Escudero denies rift with Poe hubby over poll funds

Presidential aspirant Grace Poe and running mate, vice-presidential aspirant Chiz Escudero. INQUIRER file

Independent presidential bet Sen. Grace Poe takes care of the bulk of the campaign expense of the entire Team Galing at Puso, including her running mate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and the senatorial bets.

In a press conference in Legazpi City, Escudero said he doesn’t share in the campaign expenses for the team because he hardly receives any campaign contribution because “nobody is sure what position he’ll get in the next administration.”

“Anyone who contributes in an election gives it directly for the presidential campaign fund. So it’s Senator Grace who usual shoulders all our expenses when we campaign around the country,” he said.

Escudero said he and his family’s relations with Poe and her husband, Neil Llamanzares, are tight contrary to the intrigues that they are bickering over campaign finances.

“Don’t they have any new issue to throw at us? First, they said it was a shouting match; next, they said we slapped each other; and now we’ve exchange blows. There’s nothing, all of these are false,” said Escudero.

Poe herself laughed off the rumors of a rift between Escudero and her husband. She said people were just looking for something exciting to write about the campaign.

“Senator Chiz claims that if it was true, he’s sure his opponent would’ve had lots of lumps. But that’s not true. If it was true, I’m sure he’d be the one who’d be black and blue,” said Poe.