Chiz denies parting with Grace

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Francis Escudero belied speculations yesterday that he and his potential running mate Sen. Grace Poe are parting ways in the runup to the 2016 national elections.

According to Escudero, he and Poe have different minds and that they would individually decide on their political plans for the 2016 polls.

Poe enjoys high ratings in the presidential surveys but it seems she is continuously being wooed by the Liberal Party to become the running mate of Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, who was endorsed by President Aquino yesterday.

“Sen. Grace and I are going through different decision-making processes individually. Admittedly, as friends and colleagues in the Senate, we realize we are of the same mind and intentions for the country, but we also realize that we have to make decisions on our own,” Escudero said on Thursday.

“I maintain what I have repeatedly said before: I will help and support Sen. Poe in whatever she may decide to do in 2016, like what I did for her late father, FPJ, in 2004,” Escudero added, refering to the actor Fernando Poe Jr.

Escudero, who is weighing his options including being a vice presidential bet, said that he would support Poe “in whatever capacity she may ask of me.”

Sens. Sergio Osmeña III and Ralph Recto have separately expressed the opinion that it would be better for Poe to run as vice president first, considering that she is still young and would do better as a presidential candidate in 2022.

Escudero expressed belief that Poe will be able to face issues on her citizenship and residency squarely.

“If she decides to run, I firmly believe that she will be able to hurdle any such trivial issues,” he added.

Asked to react yesterday on Roxas’ endorsement, Escudero said he respects Aquino’s decision.

Escudero said he understood Aquino’s predicament in making this decision.

Poe and Escudero ran as independent candidates but were part of the administration’s Team PNoy senatorial ticket during the 2013 elections. Their terms end in 2019.