Saying that former Senator and Sorsogon Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero has a proven track record as a legislator, presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday, Feb. 9, asked voters to bring him back to the Senate.
Escudero, who has been leading preferential surveys, welcomed Robredo and her ticket to Sorsogon for the second day of her campaign in her home province.
“Ang pagbabalik niya sa Senado ay malaking bagay dahil noong siya ay senador pa, alam naman ng lahat na si Senator Chiz ay isa sa mga pinakamatibay na mambabatas (His return to the Senate is a big thing because when he was still a senator, everyone knows that Senator Chiz is one of the strongest legislators),” the Vice President said in a speech at the campaign rally of the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem held at the Sorsogon Gymnasium.
Robredo spoke in her native Bicolano as she added that Escudero as a senator or governor is advantageous for the country.
She described Escudero, who is a guest senatorial candidate of the Robredo-Pangilinan ticket, as a true leader who is willing to collaborate and set aside political differences for the sake of the country and the Filipino people.
In 2016, the Vice President shared that Escudero, who she beat in the race, reached out and offered his help to the Office of the Vice President so it can function properly despite the limited budget allocation.
She said she owes this debt to the Sorsogon governor.
“Noong nagsisimula pa lang ako bilang VP, siya po ang tumulong sa opisina na makahanap ng mapagkukunan ng pondo para sa aming mga programa (When I started as a VP, he was the one who helped the office to find where to get funds for our programs),” she added.
Robredo lauded Escudero for the transformation of Sorsogon despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
He achieved this in less than three years since the former senator became the provincial chief executive in 2019.
“Ibang-iba na ang Sorsogon ngayon. Napakaganda po at naisulong ninyo ang pagbabago dahil kayo ay nagdesisyong magkaisa dito sa pamumuno ni Governor Chiz (Sorsogon is very different now. It’s very beautiful and you pushed for change because you decided to unite under the leadership of Governor Chiz),” Robredo said.
“‘Pag malinis ang pamamahala at nagkakaisa, marami kayong magagawa. Iyan din ang ipinaglalaban natin na maisulong ang kultura ng isang malinis, matapat at maayos na pamamahala para sa buhay na angat ang lahat. Nakita natin iyon dito sa Sorsogon (When the leadership is clean and united, you can do a lot. That’s the same thing we are fighting for to push for a culture of a clean, honest, and excellent governance to uplift the life of all. We saw that here in Sorsogon),” she added.
Aside from the Robredo-Pangilinan ticket, the tandems of Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Tito Sotto and Senator Manny Pacquiao and Rep. Lito Atienza also adopted Escudero in their senatorial slates.
UniTeam vice-presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, the Magdalo Party-list, and mayors from Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Rizal-Quezon) and Eastern Samar have also endorsed Escudero.