Could Sorsogon Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero be the next Senate President? If former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is to be believed, that seems to be the opposition’s plan if they get elected to the Senate.
Trillanes, one of the founders of the Magdalo Partylist, confirmed on Monday, Feb. 7, that the partylist is backing Escudero’s candidacy for senator.
Magdalo is said to be one of the biggest partylist groups in the House of Representatives. Manuel Cabochan III has been its representative since 2019.
“Definitely. Si Senator Chiz ay kasama sa ticket ni VP Leni so ang sinusuportahan ng grupo Magdalo ay ‘yung sinusuportahan ni VP Leni so kasama po sya (Senator Chiz is included in the ticket of VP Leni so the Magdalo group supports who VP Leni supports, so he is included),” Trillanes told reporters on the eve of the kick-off the opposition’s official campaign in Naga City, Camarines Sur.
The campaign period, which will run for 90 days, will start on Tuesday, Feb. 8. Naga City is the hometown of the Vice President.
Trillanes, together with other senatoriables under Robredo’s ticket, is in her home province. They are expected to meet with Escudero in Sorsogon on Wednesday, Feb. 9.
But it’s not just his group’s support to Escudero that Trillanes confirmed, but he also hinted that the Sorsogon governor could be the next Senate president.
“Sabi ko nga e kung magiging Senate President po si Senator Chiz edi lalo ng gaganda ang probinsya ng Sorsogon so lalo tayong makakatulong sa inyong probinsya (As I said, if Senator Chiz will be the next Senate president, the more that the province of Sorsogon will benefit so we can help in the province more),” the former Navy officer said.
Trillanes shared that he recently met with local leaders in Sorsogon, expressing his gratitude for their help.
“During my two terms sa Senado, marami din tayong naibigay na proyekto dito sa inyong probinsya at kung papalarin, tutulong tayong muli sa inyong probinsya (in the Senate, we have given a lot of projects to your province and if I’m lucky, we will help your province again),” he added.