Chiz leaves NPC, defers anew announcement of 2010 plans

Opposition Senator Francis Escudero, one of those reported to be eyeing the presidency in the 2010 elections, on Wednesday announced that he has resigned from the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC). "Madalas ko pong sinasabi na ang desisyon o pasya kaugnay sa pagtakbo o di pagtakbo, o pagtakbo sa partikular o ano mang posisyon, dapat personal sa isang tao at hindi dapat pinapasa o inaasa kaninuman...," Escudero said at a press conference at the historic Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City. "Nais ko pong ipabatid na ako po ay nagpaalam na at nag-resign na bilang miyembro ng Nationalist People’s Coalition," he added. (I've often said that the decision to run or not to run, or of running for a particular or any position, should be done personally and not relegated to anyone else…I want you to know that I have already resigned as a member of the NPC.) Escudero cited three reasons for leaving the NPC: a presidential candidate must not belong to any party, a candidate must not be tied to his party, and that he believes he can perform his job better if he is his own man. "Ako’y lumisan dahil naniniwala po ako na mas matatanaw ko ang dapat kong gawin at dapat gampanan kaugnay sa darating na halalan. Di bilang miyembro, kundi ako lamang po, bilang ako (I left because I believe that I would know better what to do and what role to play in the forthcoming elections if I view things not as a member, but on my own)," he said. "Hindi pupwedeng nakakadena ang kamay at paa sa partido. Hindi pupwedeng nakapiring ang mata at nakabusal ang bibig (It shouldn't be that one's hands and feet are chained to the party. It shouldn't be that one's eyes are blindfolded and one's lips are sealed)." he added.
FOR GMANEWS.TV'S 2010 ELECTION COVERAGE, VISIT YOURVOX He then asked the public to understand him as he mulls his political plans for 2010. "Hiling ko po’y panahon para ako’y magpasya. Ako bilang ako, at hindi diktado at di sinasabihan ng sinuman." (I ask for enough time to decide on my own, without being dictated upon by anyone.) The NPC is headed by business tycoon Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr., who formed the party when he sought the presidency in the 1992 elections. Cojuangco is the party's chairman emeritus. Escudero said he did not talk with Cojuangco “dahil wala syang papel na ginagampanan sa partido (since he does not have a role to play in the party)," but met with former Isabela governor Faustino Dy, the party chairman, on Monday night to ask permission to leave the party. Still running Present during the meeting were his father Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero III; former national police chief and presidential peace adviser Avelino Razon Jr., who is running for mayor of Manila; Bibeth Orteza; Orteza’s husband director Carlitos Siguion Reyna; Magdalo spokesman Francisco Ashley Acedillo; and Boots Cadsawan of the Filipinos for Peace, Justice and Progress Movement (FPJPM). Escudero may have deferred the announcement on what position he will run for in 2010, but his campaign manager said the senator would definitely seek the presidency. “Definitely, he will run," said Lito Banayo, who also clarified that there was no rift between Escudero and the NPC. “Walang tampuhan. Kinakailangan lang talaga na sabihin sa taumbayan na iba na ang pamumulitika na dapat gawin. Mas makakapag-serve siya nang mabuti kung wala siyang partido," Banayo told reporters after Escudero’s announcement. (There is no rift. Escudero just had to tell the people that a different brand of politics should be followed. He can serve the people better if he is not a member of any party.) 'Surprised' Escudero's announcement of his resignation from the party he joined in 1998 surprised his party mates, with some even expecting him to finally declare his presidential bid. Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco, son of the elder Cojuangco, said he was expecting Escudero to announce at 6 p.m. Wednesday that he (Escudero) will run for president in next year's polls. "Ang alam ko, 6 o' clock magde-declare si Chiz as presidential candidate namin (I was expecting Chiz to declare his presidential candidacy at 6 p.m. today)," he said. Rep. Cojuangco said he doesn't know if there was a meeting that was rumored to have taken place between Escudero and the elder Cojuangco last night. "I don't want to make comments until I know all the facts," the younger Cojuangco said, adding that he will meet with NPC leaders over Escudero's decision. In the middle of Rep. Cojuangco's interview, Legarda called him up and supposedly assured him that she will stay in the party as vice presidential bet. For his part, NPC secretary general Rizal Rep. Michael John “Jack" Duavit told GMANews.TV that Escudero’s announcement was unexpected. "I saw it on TV. I was very surprised," Duavit said. He said he is currently on his way to a meeting of party officials and will issue a party statement later. Another NPC stalwart, Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Agabbao, said he was also surprised. “I knew he was encountering problems, chief of which is money, but it never crossed my mind he will leave the party," he said in a text message to GMANews.TV. Not about money Escudero's father, Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero III, dismissed speculations that his son left the party due to "money issues." "Wala, pinaliwanag niya kanina (It's not about money, he already explained it earlier), he just wants to broaden his perspective," he said in a phone interview with GMANews.TV. The elder Escudero also said the relationship between Chiz and Danding are not strained because of Chiz's decision to leave the party. "Wala namang problema, wala naman siyang rancor sa NPC (There's no problem, there's no rancor between him and the party)," he said, adding that there was also no problem between the young Escudero and Sen. Loren Legarda. Legarda had earlier declared she will again seek the vice presidency in the 2010 polls, this time under the NPC banner. [See: Legarda says she will run as veep under NPC in 2010] In 2004, she teamed up with the immensely popular action movie king Fernando Poe Jr. but was defeated by then fellow senator and fellow former broadcast journalist Noli de Castro. Rep. Escudero said it was clear from Chiz's announcement that he will run as an independent if he decides to run at all. What is still not "100 percent" sure is Chiz's running for president. When asked whether it would be more financially difficult for Chiz to run as an independent, the elder Escudero said, "Nakukuha naman yan sa dasal (That can be achieved through prayers)." "Sa national elections, hindi naman pera lang ang tinitingnan e (Money is not the only factor in national elections)," he said. Not a publicity stunt Former senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, NPC party member and prospective party senatorial bet in 2010, wished Escudero luck. "I think he stated most of his reasons, which I believe are the same reasonable and credible principles I discussed with the late Fernando Poe Jr.," said Sotto. He did not elaborate. Sotto served as campaign manager during Poe’s presidential candidacy in the 2004 elections. Escudero was the late actor’s spokesperson. Before Escudero made his announcement, he was greeted by supporters bearing placards and stickers with the words “Chiz" or “Super Chiz." A supporter also shouted “Ang susunod na Pangulo ng Pilipinas! (The next President of the Philippines!)" as Escudero entered the room. Some of his supporters were clad in red. Asked by reporters later on how he would handle possible criticism that his announcement was only a publicity stunt, Escudero said: "Hindi ko masisisi na yun ang iisipin ng ilang kritiko. Ito’y nilahad ko lang dahil ito ang aking plano at ito ang ginawa ko. (I can't blame some critics if that's what they think. That's what I announced because that's what I planned and that's what I did." - with reports from Amita Legaspi and Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV