Chiz accepts Poe’s challenge to be 2016 running mate

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Francis Escudero yesterday accepted the offer of Sen. Grace Poe to run for vice president in the 2016 elections.

“I accept this challenge wholeheartedly because I believe in the character and ability of Senator Grace,” Escudero told a gathering at the historic Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan.

“Like her father FPJ, Senator Poe’s heart is in the right place. I believe that, as president, Sen. Grace Poe or ‘GP’ will lead a GP – Gobyernong may Puso or a government with heart,” said Escudero, who served as campaign spokesman for Poe’s father, the late movie icon Fernando Poe Jr.

“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, making him the first to announce a vice presidential bid for the 2016 elections.

Escudero, with his wife actress Heart Evangelista, addressed a huge crowd carrying streamers and placards of support at the Kalayaan Hall of Club Filipino, the same venue where President Aquino recently endorsed administration standard bearer, former interior secretary Manuel Roxas II.

“I am Chiz Escudero, a Filipino, a son, husband, 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, taking a cue from Poe’s announcement speech on Wednesday.

Escudero spoke before the gathering about unity among Filipinos.

Instead of rending the country, Escudero said the next leaders should not be divided based on political parties or affiliation.

“We believe that whoever runs and serves as president or vice-president should not be member of a single party. Our party should be the Filipino people. And we should be loyal not only to liberals, nationalists or other party members, but to every Filipino,” Escudero said.

Poe and Escudero will run as independents in the May 2016 elections.  

Escudero though conceded it would be difficult to run for higher elective position without a political machinery. He admitted that they could not do it alone and need help from the people. 

“Senator Grace and I cannot do this alone. We need the help of every one of you, of every Filipino,” he said. “Our party is the Philippines, and the members of our party are the Filipino people.”

“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,” Escudero said. 

True colors

 The Grace-Chiz tandem will embark on a journey under the banner of “Partido Pilipinas” until May 2016.

At the start of the brief ceremonies, Poe explained their political colors of light blue, white and red almost reflect the color representation of the Philippine flag. 

Light blue represents Poe and her mother’s devotion to Mother Mary and white is for purity. From yellow and blue, Escudero shifted his political color to red.

Escudero explained Partido Pilipinas is not a political party, but “an ideology and a principle” to signify that “we all belong to one country.” 

“It’s an ideology and a principle. That we all belong to one country and people and a call for us to be united, to stop bickering, to set aside our differences and to work together to move the country forward,” he said.

Escudero took the cue from Poe by wearing a white shirt during his declaration.

Watching from the sidelines were Heart, flanked by Poe’s mother, actress Susan Roces, FPJ’s daughter Lovi Poe and her boyfriend, Rocco Nacino.  

Escudero’s mother-in-law, Cecile Ongpauco, who had a highly publicized spat with the senator in the run-up to the last 2013 midterm elections, also attended the political event. She wore white, like many of Poe’s supporters. 

She was seated beside Escudero’s mother, Sorsogon Rep. Evelina Escudero.

“My mom attended the event. I’m not sure what else they plan to do but we are very excited and they are very supportive. That’s good enough for us,” Heart said in an interview after the declaration.

“Okay naman,” the elder Escudero remarked when asked how she felt sitting beside Ongpauco. She said she is very happy that “everything is peaceful now.”

Rep. Escudero revealed that her son had to weigh many things before he decided to run for the vice presidency. “He decided some time ago but he had to consider many things. He is just eyeing the VP post, not the presidency,” she added.

Heart, on the other hand, said there was a massive show of support from some of her colleagues in the showbiz industry.  – Paolo Romero, Eva Visperas