Makati mayor and Escudero go a long way back
By Christian V. Esguerra (Philippine Daily Inquirer) Jan 18, 2010
MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero has thrown his support behind Partido ng Masang Pilipino’s vice presidential candidate, Makati Mayor Jejomar “Jojo” Binay, but is apparently not backing its standard-bearer, former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada.
In an interview with the Inquirer, Binay confirmed that Escudero, who backed out as standard-bearer of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) late last year, was joining his campaign, but added that it was “not a package deal”—meaning, Escudero made no commitment to support Estrada.
Escudero reportedly attended his first campaign meeting on Thursday, the day the Liberal Party faction led by ex-Manila Mayor Lito Atienza endorsed Estrada’s candidacy during a gathering at the Port Area.
“Yes, he is supporting my candidacy and I am very happy for that because we can learn a lot from him,” Binay said in Filipino, referring to Escudero’s experience during the presidential campaign for the late Fernando Poe Jr. in 2004.
“But it’s not a package deal,” he added, explaining that Escudero was not necessarily supporting Estrada’s bid as well.
Asked if reports were true that Escudero was backing Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III for president, Binay replied: “I don’t know. It’s precisely the reason why we have not decided on his actual role in the campaign. He might be helping another presidential candidate and it might eat up a lot of his time.”
A source in Estrada’s camp said Escudero had actually joined Binay as his campaign manager and, in fact, presided over the Thursday meeting.
The source, who asked not to be identified, said Escudero would be supporting the presidential bid of Liberal Party standard-bearer Aquino.
An aide of Escudero’s told the Philippine Daily Inquirer the senator could not be reached for comment Sunday.
Binay downplayed the political implication of Escudero’s selective support, saying that Estrada would not mind: He is “not narrow-minded.”
Binay said his arrangement with Escudero was “a personal agreement.”
“I had been trying to enlist (Escudero’s) support for some time. I can just imagine his value to the campaign. He was a topnotcher (in the Senate) and he has a lot of experience. He has a huge following that he can tap,” Binay said.
Escudero and Binay were part of Poe’s campaign team in 2004 as spokesperson and campaign manager, respectively.
In Binay’s camp, Escudero would be pitted against his former party mate and now Nacionalista Party vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda.
Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said Estrada was in a good position to win back Malacañang, noting that the former president was third among presidential candidates in recent surveys.
Rodriquez said one thing going against Estrada was the prospect of disqualification in case the Commission on Elections and, later, the Supreme Court, ruled that he was not eligible to run again.
“That’s in the mind of the masses,” he told the Inquirer. “But once he is cleared, we expect his ratings to soar.”
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