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Opposition Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero is expected to finally make formal his presidential bid today, which announcement was originally planned to take place some two weeks ago, but with his camp now indicating this signaling as the eventual declaration of his team-up with partymate Sen. Loren Legarda, as frontrunners of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in next year’s elections.

Amid requests by Escudero’s camp for media coverage on an “important political announcement” he will make today, there already are talks that the senator, the lone neophyte member of the upper chamber embarking on presidential race, is already withdrawing his bid for the highest position in the country.

But Escudero is said to be set to declare his presidential bid today at the Club Filipino in Green Hills, San Juan. Earlier, the announcement said that he will be making an “important announcement at the at the University of the Philippines’ Bahay ng Alumni.

“Sen. Chiz Escudero is ready to lead this nation out of the misery brought about by an immoral leadership that came to power by questionable means,” Brian Ong, president of the claimed one-million strong Youth for Chiz Movement, said yesterday. He will unveil a seven-point pro-people platform of change, Ong said.

Talk from NPC sources said Escudero is going to junk Sen, Loren Legarda as his running mate and is now scouting for a vice presidential candidate who is loyal to the NPC. The name mentioned was Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.

Talks on Escudero pulling out of the race came out as early as Monday and was further heightened when his camp made last-minute changes on the venue of the scheduled event.

“He is not dropping out and he will make his firm intention known to the public tomorrow,” Lito Banayo, political adviser of Sen Panfilo Lacson and now political strategist for Chiz as well as his campaign manager, said in TV interview.

Banayo reiterated previous explanations given by Escudero in postponing his annoucement. More…

Author: Angie M. Rosales and Gerry Baldo
Photo Credit: beazfroi