CHIZ RESIGNS FROM NPC, STILL
MUM ON 2010 PLANS
[PHOTO
AT LEFT - Shock announcement. Sen. Francis Escudero declares his resignation
from the Nationalist People’s Coalition this morning at Club Filipino in
Greenhills, San Juan City. Vernadette Joven MANILA,
Philippines]
MANILA, OCTOBER 29, 2009 (STAR) By Dino Maragay - Opposition Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero has resigned from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) while deferring announcement of his political plans for 2010.
Escudero’s announcement was in contrast to expectations that he would either confirm or disprove predictions that he would run as president next year.
"Nais ko pong ipabatid sa inyo na ako ay nagpaalam na at nag-resign na bilang miyembro ng Nationalist People's Coalition o NPC," the youthful lawmaker told a packed crowd in the historic Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City, this morning.
Escudero cited several reasons for his resignation from the NPC — his party for 11 years.
“Sinuman pong nagpa-planong tumakbo bilang pangulo, dapat wala pong partidong kinabibilangan, NPC, LP (Liberal Pary), NP (Nationalista), Lakas o anu pa man,” he said.
“Ang dapat na partidong kinabibilangan ng sinumang nagpa-planong tumakbo, dapat po Pilipinas. At lahat ng mga ka-partido niya dapat lahat din Pilipino. Bata man o matanda, babae o lalake, mayaman o mahirap, nakapag-aral o hindi, dilaw man o pula ang kulay, binoto ka man o hindi, dapat ituring mo ng pantay o pareho,” he continued.
“Hindi pwede na ang palagi mong pinakikinggan ay ang iyong mga ka-partido lamang, habang tinitingnan mo na lang sa malayo ang mga hindi mo ka-partido, ang hindi mo ka-grupo,” Escudero added.
The opposition senator also said that in leaving the NPC, he can perform his job better now that “he is his own man.”
Escudero’s speech was met with cheers from the crowd, which included supporters of the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. and members of the Magdalo group, who earlier declared they are backing the senator in his presidential bid.
Keeping his options open
Escudero said he is now keeping his options open for his next move, adding that he would decide on his 2010 plans in the next few days.
“Bukas at hindi nakatali ang aking bibig at kamay at makakapagpasya ng buo sa mga darating na araw,” he addressed reporters in a press conference after his speech.
He said it is even possible that he would not run at all, and that he will be leaving it up to the people to decide.
“Tayo-tayo na ngayon ang magpapasya at hindi na kami-kami,” he said.
Escudero, who turned 40 last Oct. 10, postponed the scheduled announcement of his political plans to focus on helping victims of typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng.”
Sen. Loren Legarda, another NPC member, had earlier announced her vice presidential bid.
Although Legarda said she will be running under the NPC banner, several reports claimed she was talking with other presidential candidates to be her partner in the 2010 elections.
Chiz poised to make 'important' announcement (The Philippine Star) Updated October 28, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Opposition Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero is expected to make an important announcement this morning at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan.
The announcement, set at 10 a.m. in Greenhills instead of 6 p.m. at the Bahay ng Alumni at the University of the Philippines, has been postponed twice due to recent disasters that hit the country.
Escudero’s announcement would either confirm or disprove earlier predictions that the senator will formalize his intention to run for president despite talks that he and Sen. Loren Legarda may no longer end up becoming a tandem even if they are both from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
This was because Legarda, who had declared she would run for vice president, was reportedly talking with other presidential candidates to be her partner in the 2010 elections.
In an earlier statement released by a group supportive of Escudero, it said Escudero’s reported bid for the presidency would rest on a “platform of change” and would be fueled by the youth vote, millions of them first-time voters.
“Sen. Chiz Escudero is ready to lead this nation out of the misery brought about by an immoral leadership that came to power by questionable means,” said Brian Ong, president of the one-million strong Youth for Chiz Movement.
Escudero, who turned 40 last Oct. 10, postponed the scheduled announcement of his political plans to focus on helping victims of typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng.”
“I believe this is the right time for Chiz to run for the presidency, in the same way I believe this is the time for the youth to take charge of our nation’s future,” he said.
“Chiz personifies the youth of the land. He complements his idealism with a solid grasp of the law and governance. The youth see in him their hope for a better future, and if only for this, I believe he will rise to the challenge,” Ong added.
Digoy Esguerra, one of the founders of the Youth for Chiz Movement, said they believe Escudero can change the system and quality of governance in the country.
“Chiz will run under the platform of change – in the way government responds to the needs of the people, to how government conducts its business, in fact to the way government governs. Our country has been in a freefall in the last 10 years or so, and I believe this has to stop,” Esguerra said.
Meantime, a youth group in Rosales, Pangasinan has already gathered its targeted one million signatures from the entire Region 1 in its drive to push Escudero to run for president next year.
Rosendo So, founding chairman of Abono partylist, told The STAR yesterday that the one million mark was reached four days ago and they are presenting the results to Escudero today in time for his announcement about his political plans. – Aurea Calica, Eva Visperas