MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – A day after Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda questioned the campaign message of Senator Grace Poe, Poe’s running mate said that the secretary should just resign if he wants to speak for the ruling Liberal Party (LP). 

Senator Francis Escudero took a swipe at Lacierda for dabbling in politics while speaking for the President. 

“Kung nais po niya, magbitiw siya at maging bahagi ng campaign team ni Secretary [Mar] Roxas. Bilang opisyal na tagapagsalita ng Pangulo, hindi naman po siguro natatama na idudutdut niya ang kamay niya sa pulitika,” Escudero told DZBB on Sunday, September 20. 

(If he wants, he should resign and be part of the campaign team of Secretary Mar Roxas. As the official spokesperson of the President, it is not right for him to dip his fingers into politics.) 

Escudero was responding to Lacierda’s criticism of Poe’s campaign message as “somewhat confusing.” On Saturday, the secretary said that it is unclear whether or not the Poe-Escudero tandem is after change or continuity by launching the bagong umaga (new morning) slogan while invoking the administration’s daang matuwid (straight path) line. 

In response, Lacierda said there is no basis for the call for his resignation. 

“There is already Supreme Court jurisprudence on Cabinet secretaries as alter egos and Senator Escudero is well aware of it. I would humbly encourage Senator Escudero to focus on the bigger issues that confront a campaign instead of focusing on an individual,” Lacierda said. 

Both Lacierda and Escudero are lawyers. 

Lacierda has made no secret of his support for the candidacy of LP standard-bearer, resigned Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. 

The spokesperson even started a #jumpwithLeni campaign on social media to encourage Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo to agree to be Roxas’ running mate despite her hesitation. 

Robredo initially said that she is not interested and ready for the post, but she is now considering Roxas’ offer. 

‘No admin is perfect’ 

A close friend and ally of Poe, Escudero addressed Lacierda’s criticism of Poe’s campaign message. 

The senator said that the tandem will continue the effective projects of the Aquino administration, and change those that do not work.

“Maski anong administrasyon ay walang perpekto. Hindi ba dapat lamang ituloy ang maganda at baguhin ang mali,” Escudero said. 

(No administration is perfect. Shouldn’t we continue the projects that are working, and stop those that are wrong)

“Ang problema ng ating bansa, sa bawat administrasyong pumapasok, palaging binabago lahat – tama man o mali, maganda man o pangit.   Sana maging bukas tayo, ituloy ang maganda, baguhin ang mali, at punuan ang pagkukulang,” Escudero added.  

(The problem with our country is that every new administration changes everything – regardless of whether the project works or not. I hope we become more open and inclusive. Continue what is right, change what is wrong, and fill in the gaps.)

‘No Senate slate yet’ 

When Poe declared her bid presidential bid on Wednesday, September 16, she insisted that no one has a monopoly over daang matuwid, which has been associated with good governance. She even thanked President Benigno Aquino III for his efforts to ensure a clean government.

Poe and Escudero are both allies of Aquino but are running as independent candidates under a coalition of political parties, and partylist groups. 

Poe leads presidential surveys. Prior her declaration, she met with Aquino several times to discuss the chances of her running under the LP. Aquino and Roxas invited Poe to slide down to the vice presidency but the senator eventually decided to gun for the highest post. 

Asked about a senatorial slate, Escudero said that while some expressed interest in running with him and Poe, the two have not formally discussed the topic.

Escudero is halfway through his second term as senator. He started his political career at 28, when he was elected representative of the 1st district of Sorsogon. He was congressman for  9 years. – Rappler.com