GRACE-CHIZ / OCTOBER 15, 2015
Sen. Grace Poe and running mate Sen. Francis Escudero file their certificate of candidacy respectively at the COMELEC on October 15, 2015.
INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� A non-issue.
The Partido Galing at Puso (PGP) played down speculations, on Thursday, that its vice presidential aspirant, Sen. Francis Escudero, might have secretly forged an alliance with Vice President Jejomar Binay, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) presidential bet.
Ace Durano, the party鈥檚 campaign manager, said there has been 鈥渘o doubt鈥� about Escudero鈥檚 support for Sen. Grace Poe, the standard-bearer of the so-called third force in the May 2016 general elections.
Echoing Escudero鈥檚 explanation, he said the supposed meeting between the PGP vice presidential bet and Binay in Davao City a few days ago was just a 鈥渃hance encounter.鈥�
鈥�(Escudero) is a very principled person. He knows who his president is,鈥� Durano told the Philippine Daily Inquirer after the PGP officially announced its senatorial slate at the storied Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City.
鈥淭here鈥檚 really nothing. It鈥檚 not an issue at all,鈥� he stressed. 鈥淔or us, it鈥檚 a non-issue.鈥�
Escudero, who was credited for Binay鈥檚 victory in the 2010 national elections, seemed to quell questions regarding his loyalty when he introduced Poe at the PGP gathering.
鈥淢y President does not have a 鈥楤,鈥欌�� Escudero said, apparently a play at a commercial he did during the 2010 campaign in support of Binay.
鈥淢y President has a 鈥楪鈥� and a 鈥楶.鈥� She has competence and her heart is in the right place鈥� It鈥檚 a great honor to introduce to you鈥� Sen. Grace Poe, the next president of the Republic of the Philippines,鈥� he said.
A photo showing Binay and Escudero, who severed his ties with the Vice President before the 2013 senatorial race, sharing a table at a restaurant in Davao on Sunday, came out in the media, triggering rumors that Escudero might be plotting to abandon Poe.
But the senator said they were just invited by a common friend, former Davao del Norte Rep. Tonyboy Floirendo, over lunch last Sunday.
Poe herself expressed confidence that her running mate was not planning anything against her, but admitted she was surprised when she saw the photo.
Durano said candidates belonging to rival parties would usually see each other during the campaign.
鈥淚t happens all the time when you鈥檙e on a campaign trial鈥� Just because you鈥檙e not an ally or not in the same ticket does not mean you can鈥檛 be friends,鈥� he said. 聽SFM