Angara: Escudero does not need a party

LAGUNA -- Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero does not need the support of any political party, including the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), to be re-elected, a candidate of Team PNoy said Thursday.

"Chiz does not need a party. Chiz will win whatever actions are taken against him," Team PNoy senatorial candidate Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara said in an interview with reporters during the slate's rally in Biñan City, Laguna.

Escudero is consistently on top of the pre-election surveys conducted by the Social Weather Station and Pulse Asia.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, a leader of UNA, threatened to withdraw the political party's support to Escudero, and UNA's two other guest candidates, Senator Loren Legarda and former MTRCB chief Grace Poe-Llamanzares, after they failed to attend the proclamation rally in Cebu.

Legarda and Llamanzares sent their representatives to the campaign kick-off while Escudero said he did not know that he could send his representative to the said event.

"The three common candidates of Team PNoy and UNA appeared at the launching of Team PNoy at Plaza Miranda instead of going to Cebu for the UNA proclamation rally. That speaks volumes about what they think of UNA," House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, a member of LP, said.

Escudero, however, admitted that the non-endorsement of Binay may lessen his number of votes in the May 13 elections.

"Kahit sino namang tumatakbo ayaw naman mabawasan kahit kaunting suporta," he said in a phone interview.

Escudero endorsed the successful tandem of then Senator Benigno Aquino III of the Liberal Party and Binay of the United Opposition for president and vice president, respectively, during the 2010 elections. Aquino's running mate was Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II.

Campaign spokesperson and House Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III, meanwhile, thinks that it's a good idea for UNA to drop the three candidates.

"It is UNA's decision if they want to drop their three adopted candidates. At least the people will no longer be confused. Will it be a loss to the three? I don't think so. We will know the answer on election day," Tañada said in a text message.

Team PNoy campaign manager Franklin Drilon refused to answer whether or not there will be sanctions against the guest candidates who will join the UNA rallies.

Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV, also a candidate of Team PNoy, said attending sorties is optional for all the bets.

"It is also optional for all of us because, of course, we also have other commitments," Aquino said.

Team PNoy visited Laguna in the third day of campaign.

The administration is fielding Representative Edgar San Luis as governor in the province of Laguna against incumbent Governor ER Ejercito.

"We will try our best for a 12-0 (for Team PNoy) but I'm not promising anything," Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez said. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)