Escudero still mum on political plans

MANILA -- He is running for re-election in May 2013 but whether it is under the ruling Liberal Party or the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), Senator Francis Escudero has kept his mouth sealed.

Escudero, a consistent topnotcher in surveys, said it is not for him to decide which group he would align with.

“Anyone who is running for an electoral position would wish for many supporters because politics at the end of the day is addition. I’m not a member of the governing body of LP or UNA and I don’t want to pre-empt whatever is the decision regarding the final (senatorial) list of both coalitions,” he said.

The senator was instrumental to the success of the tandem of then Senator Benigno Aquino III and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay in the 2010 presidential elections.

Both men have respective running-mates with then Senator Manuel Roxas II losing the tight vice presidential race to Binay.

Escudero said he did not expect that Aquino and Binay will field different senatorial slates for next year but he also hinted at running as independent in case his name will not be endorsed by either camp.

In a text message, UNA spokesperson JV Bautista said Binay will meet with Escudero anytime soon to discuss his possible inclusion in the senatorial line-up.

If the talks will end up successfully, Escudero will be the 10th person in the 12-man slate to be drafted by UNA.

Among those who are included in the line-up are Senator Gregorio Honasan II, San Juan City Representative Joseph Victor Ejercito and former senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Ernesto Maceda and Richard Gordon.

LP stalwart and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, meanwhile, failed to respond to queries as of this posting Tuesday. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)