PNoy should not have endorsed any candidate – Escudero

SAMBOAN, Cebu—Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Saturday said President Aquino should not have endorsed any candidate in the May elections to show that the polls will indeed be fair.

“Nalungkot ako ng bahagya nung nagpasya si Pangulong Aquino na mag-endorso ng kandidato (I am slightly sad of the decision of President Aquino to endorse a candidate),” he told a news conference at the rest house of Mayor Raymond Calderon of Samboan town, located at the southern tip of Cebu.

“Mas maganda sana kung wala hindi dahil si Sen. Grace and inendorso niya or ako pero mas maganda sana kung pinangasiwaan na lang ng Pangulo, sinupervise at inoversee niya ang isang malinis at patas na halalan (It would have been better if he hadn’t, not because he did not endorse Senator Grace or me. It would have been better if the President just supervised and oversaw the conduct of clean and fair elections),” he added.

Escudero said the government’s program — Daang Matuwid (straight path) – would have been best exemplify the ideals of fair play had the President not been involved in the campaign.

Sen. Grace Poe, who is running for president, and her running mate, Escudero, were in Cebu on Saturday, a day after the two-day sortie of administration standard bearer Mar Roxas and running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo in this vote-rich province.

From Samboan, they were expected to fly to Bantayan Island, in northern tip of Cebu.

Based on the latest Social Weather Station surveys, Poe was ahead by only one point at 26 percent.

Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) had voter support of 25 percent and was statistically tied with Roxas and Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan standard bearer, Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

In the vice presidential race, Escudero was statistically tied with Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the first place.

Asked about their current standing on the surveys, Poe said the survey inspired them to visit more areas in the country.

Escudero, for his part, said it only meant that they had to work harder and not be complacent in their current standing now.

Poe said it was also important to have the support of different groups from well-meaning families like the Calderons in Samboan.

“We need all the support that we can get from well-intentioned families. It makes a big difference if you are welcomed when you go to any province. We respect their prerogative to be able to declare where their commitment lies.”