Chiz, Mar ‘renew friendship’

MANILA, Philippines – The 2010 elections is behind, it seems. It was Liberal Party president-on-leave Mar Roxas himself who invited Senator Chiz Escudero, through a text message, to attend the ruling party’s Christmas party last week.  

“We were invited and we graciously accepted. We were honored by the invitation,” Escudero said.

Is it a sign of renewed friendship with Mar? Escudero replied: “Sana, sana. Kasi wala naman kaming pinag-awayan talaga (I hope so because we did not really have a misunderstanding),” Escudero told reporters. 

The two former members of the House of Representatives used to be close. Roxas even served as a principal sponsor in Escudero’s wedding to his first wife (their marriage is now annulled). 

In 2010, however, when Roxas ran for vice president, Escudero endorsed his rival, then Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay. Binay won the race, a victory that Roxas has protested in a case that the Supreme Court as Presidential Electoral Tribuna has yet to rule on.

It’s not the first sign of the two’s renewed friendship. Seeing reporters get tickled by the idea of them getting close again, a giggling Escudero noted how he himself defended the budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which Roxas heads.

Escudero went on to defend Roxas amid criticisms for his decision to ride a motorcycle to reach Eastern Visayas towns hit by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit).

“Kayo naman. Sumemplang na nga, babatikusin ‘nyo pa,” Escudero said. “At least ginagawa niya trabaho niya,” he added. (You people. He already fell, don’t criticize him anymore. At least he was doing his job.)

Now, how does all of these play out in the coming 2016 presidential elections? “Party ‘yun hindi partido. Kainan yun at hindi miting. Pasko ang ipinagdiwang at hindi pagtakbo (It was a party, not political party. We had dinner, not a meeting. We celebrated Christmas, not election plans),” he said.

Escudero maintained it is too early to make decisions. He refused to confirm his plans or comment on the plans of ally Senator Grace Poe, who has been getting a lot of attention lately because of her rising poll numbers.

Poe was also invited to the LP Christmas party. (READ: All eyes on Grace Poe at LP party in Malacañang) – Carmela Fonbuena/Rappler.com