MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Senator Francis Escudero is running for Sorsogon governor in the 2019 elections.

Escudero, whose Senate term ends next year, is set to file his certificate of candidacy on Friday, October 12 at the Commission on Elections Sorsogon Provincial Office. 

He is running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition, with his running mate, outgoing Barcelona town Mayor Manuel “Wowo” Fortes. In 2009, Escudero resigned from the NPC amid talks he would be the party’s presidential bet.

In 2016, however, the party supported the tandem of Senators Grace Poe and Escudero in the presidential elections. Poe and Escudero lost to President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo, respectively.

Escudero hails from the province and served as a district representative from 1998 to 2007, after which he won in the Senate and served two consecutive terms.

His mother, Evelina, is currently the 1st district representative in the province. He is married to celebrity Heart Evangelista. – Rappler.com