Chiz mum on Heart's role in re-election campaign

SENATOR Francis Escudero has yet to decide if rumored flame Heart Evangelista will join him in campaign sorties for his re-election bid next year.

Speaking to reporters, Escudero said it is too early to discuss campaign strategies eight months before the May 2013 elections.

"Hindi pa kami nagpapasiya kaugnay ng kampanya at kung ano ang gagawin namin sa kampanya dahil malayo layo pa iyon siguro pagdating ng tamang panahon doon pa lamang naming pagpapasiyahan iyan hindi naming pinaguusapan iyan sa campaign team (We have no decision yet on what we will do during the campaign because it's still very far)," he said.

Now separated with wife Christine, the senator admitted he had gone out with the television actress for a couple of times but the two have yet to reveal the real status of their relationship.

Escudero will file his certificate of candidacy as an independent with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) next Tuesday, October 2.

In the same briefing, Escudero downplayed pressures for him to finish no. 1. Pre-election surveys showed the young senator trailing Senator Loren Legarda, who topped the 2007 polls.

"Ang rank sa darating na halalan ay hindi kasing halaga ng pagkapanalo para sa akin tulad nga ng sinabi ko six years din ang term niyan parehas lang din ang suweldo namin at wala naman sa ranking ang matatanggap mo na committee dagdag mo pa diyan kung inuugnay mo sa 2016 (For me, rank in the elections is not as important as victory, like what I said, winners will get the same six-year term, same salary, and committee chairmanship is not dependent on the ranking, as well as one one's fate in 2016)," he said, referring to the next presidential elections where he was seen as a potential vice presidential bet.

Escudero is a common candidate of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and the Liberal Party (LP). (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)