CHIZ TO STAY INDEPENDENT

Senator Chiz Escudero sees common platforms and objectives from both the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and the Liberal Party (LP) coalitions, which will contest 12 senatorial seats in next year’s mid-term polls.

“I believe that when you compare the platforms of all the parties, almost all are identical: alleviate the plight of the poor, find ways to economic recovery, and promote land reform. Both UNA and LP have our country’s welfare in mind. The only difference are the personalities and the officials who make up the parties,” Escudero said on Monday at the Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel media forum in Manila.

Escudero was chosen as a common senatorial candidate by UNA and LP although he remains an independent candidate in the May 2013 elections.

Vice President Jejomar Binay earlier told media that Escudero would be a guest candidate in the UNA senatorial slate even if the Bicolano senator decides to join the LP coalition.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, president of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino, earlier said that Escudero is a friend of all UNA leaders which makes him acceptable as an UNA guest candidate.

“I will be running for senator as an independent and I have no plans of joining any political party. But I am thankful that the LP will include me in its coalition and UNA will be adopting me as a guest candidate,” Escudero said.

“The more support a candidate gets for his candidacy, the better for him,” Escudero said.