Poe willing to mediate between Estrada, Escudero

SENATORIAL bet Grace Poe-Llamanzares offered Monday to mediate the conflict between Senator Francis Escudero and former President Joseph Estrada who have had a falling out since Escudero was dropped from the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) ticket.

Speaking to reporters in a Team PNoy sortie in Quezon province, Llamanzares said she is willing to talk to Estrada and Escudero to patch up their differences.

"Hindi ko alam ang puno't dulo nun pero kung may pagkakataon na magawa ito, why not? Pareho silang kaibigan ni FPJ [I have no idea how it started but if given a chance to mediate, why not. They are both friends of Fernando Poe Jr.]," said Llamanzares, referring to her late father and Estrada's best friend.

Aside from Escudero, Senator Loren Legarda, and Poe herself were dropped from the UNA slate as guest candidates after they failed to attend its key provincial sorties.

Escudero earlier accused Estrada, one of the three pillars of UNA, of running a hate campaign against him.

"Sana maging maayos silang dalawa kasi sa tingin ko, wala naman silang balak na masama sa isa't isa [I hope they will resolve their differences because I think they have no intention to go against each other]," Poe said.

Escudero suspects that Estrada was campaigning against him to get rid of him in preparation for the 2016 presidential elections. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)