Former Senator and incumbent Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Tuesday, Nov. 9 assured that all presidential candidates—regardless of their political party affiliations—are free to campaign in the province without fear of sabotage or harassment.

“Mas nais kong bukas ang aming lalawigan para makita at makilala lahat ng tumatakbo sa pagkapangulo para sila rin ang makapili ng may nalalaman at may basehan (I prefer to open our province to all running for president so all the people here can wisely choose candidates with sufficient knowledge and basis),” explained Escudero, who is seeking a fresh Senate mandate under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

Escudero said opening Sorsogon to all presidential candidates along with their running mates would help Sorsogonans decide in the May 2022 national elections. He said Sorsogon had about 493,116 registered voters in the 2019 elections.

“Bilang ama ng Sorsogon, nasa interes ng probinsya namin na makilala nila lahat ng tumatakbo para makapili nang husto (As father of Sorsogon, it is in the interest of the province to individually learn who are those running so they can choose correctly),” he said.

Escudero said he believes candidates have the right to communicate their platform to the electorate as much as people have the right to get the information they need to be able to fully decide whom to cast in their ballots come election day.

“Hindi ko sasaraduhan ang aming probinsya tulad ng ibang mga lugar na hindi pwede magpunta, at pinapatayan ng kuryente yung mga rallies (I won’t close the door of our province compared to other provinces where some candidates are not welcome and they shut the electricity during their campaign rallies),” he pointed out.

After all, he pointed out, the Filipino people’s vote as a whole will ultimately make or break a candidate.

“Ang tingin ko naman, mapa-senador ka man, presidente ka man, isang boto ka pa rin naman (I think, whether you are running for senator or president, you are still one vote),” said the former lawmaker who served two consecutive terms in the Senate from 2007 to 2019.

“Sa dulo, ang bibilangin ay boto pa rin ng bawa’t indibidwal (In the end, each individual vote counts),” said the governor whose bid for a fresh Senate term in the upcoming May 2022 elections is endorsed by presidential candidates Vice President Leni Robredo, and Senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Manny Pacquiao.