By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA, Sept. 17 (PNA) – As expected, Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero declared on Thursday his candidacy as running mate of his close political ally Senator Grace Poe in the 2016 presidential elections.
In front of enthusiastic supporters, friends and families, including his wife Heart Evangelista and mother-in-law Cecile Ongpauco, Escudero offered himself for higher service and accepted the offer of Poe to be her vice president.
”I am Chiz Escudero, a Filipino, a son, a husband, a father, and a Bicolano public servant. With the grace of God and the Blessed Mother, I humbly offer myself to the mission of serving as your vice president … as the vice president of our country,” Escudero said in his acceptance speech.
Escudero declared his vice presidential bid a day after Poe declared her intention to join the presidential race in next year’s elections.
In her introduction speech, Poe said she chose Escudero as running mate based on his credentials and experiences as public servant for the last 17 years.
”So today, I am pleased to ask you support for our reliable public servant who can serve us, our vice president Senator Chiz Escudero,” Poe said.
In response, Escudero said he accepted “this challenge wholeheartedly because I believe in the character and ability of Senator Grace.”
”I once said that I would support any decision that Senator Grace makes regarding her role in the 2016 elections. As a candidate or ordinary supporter, I’m prepared to stand by her, just as I did for FPJ over 11 years ago,” Escudero said.
Escudero served as one of the spokespersons of Fernando Poe Jr., father of Grace Poe, in the 2004 presidential elections.
Defying criticisms that he is too ambitious, Escudero said every Filipino has a right to aspire to service for the country “because no single person or family has a monopoly over the talent, intelligence, skill, and good intentions for our country.”
”I refuse to agree with those who say I have no right to have dreams or ambitions, especially if those dreams or ambitions are not for myself, but for our country and my fellow countrymen,” he said.
He said every Filipino — rich or poor, young or old, man or woman, educated or not, good-looking or not, pedigreed or not, whether they live in Makati or in the provinces — has the ability, capacity, and right to devote his or her life to serving the country.
”Because no single person or family has a monopoly over the talent, intelligence, skill, and good intentions for our country. This is why I have decided to accept, with wholehearted will and humility, Senator Grace’s challenge to accompany her on her journey, and to run as her vice president,” Escudero said.
”Like her father FPJ, Senator Poe’s heart is in the right place. I believe that, as president, Senator Grace Poe or “GP” will lead a “GP” — Gobyernong may Puso or a Government with Heart,” he added.
Escudero said he and Poe “will establish a Government with Heart through a detailed platform for each agency, which will be based on their yearly budget.”
”In governing this country, we cannot afford to dawdle or hold ourselves hostage to analysis paralysis. We should hit the ground running from the first day until the last. We cannot afford to do otherwise,” Escudero said.
He said they will run as independent with the Filipino people as their partymates.
”Senator Grace and I cannot do this alone. We need the help of every one of you, of every Filipino! Our party is the Philippines, and the members of our party are the Filipino people,” Escudero said.
”We will work together and unite in our mission, and this is the only way for us to equally serve and listen to every Filipino, whether they voted for us or not, whether they support us or not,” he added.
It took only 40 minutes for Escudero and Poe to seal the tandem to the delight of at least 1,000 supporters who packed the historic Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City.
Among the personalities present were Poe’s mother, movie actress Susan Roces, Grace’s sister Lovely Poe, Escudero’s mother, Sorsogon Congresswoman Evaline Guevera-Escudero, former Zamboanga Congressman Romeo Jalosjos, Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian and Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) president Giorgidi Aggabao.
Escudero, one of the poorest senators, has been in government service for the last 17 years, having served as congressman of his home province of Sorsogon.
As congressman and senator, Escudero has filed 139 bills that have been enacted into law.
Escudero, a law graduate from the University of the Philippines and son of the late Sorsogon Congressman Salvador ‘Sonny’ Escudero, marked his own name in politics when he initiated an impeachment case against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (PNA)