“No, she doesn’t need to,” says Sen. Chiz Escudero at the lunch presscon Mother Lily hosted for him with his supporters Bibeth Orteza and Dolor Guevarra. “Nasa tamang edad na siya at may wasto siyang pag-iisip para magdesisyon para sa sarili niya. I am proud of her, I’m happy for her, kasi alam kong makakatulong yan sa career niya. Hindi naman ako pinanganak na seloso at mas kabisado niya ang mundo ng showbiz kaya alam na niya kung ano ang mga dapat at hindi dapat gawin.”
Does he regret being linked with her? It’s said that her parents’ ranting against him is the reason why he went down in the surveys. “No regrets. Hindi naman bumaba ang rating ko dahil kay Heart. It’s because kulang ako sa resources at hindi marami ang ads ko gaya ng sa ibang kandidato. Ngayon lang na patapos na ang campaign period ako nakabawi kaya tumaas na uli ako sa surveys.”
Which is harder for him, the problems in his affairs of the heart or in politics? “Wala akong problema sa puso ko. Ang tingin namin dito, pagsubok lang o paghamon at ito’y malalampasan namin ng aking kasintahan.”
The press howled at this, saying the word “kasintahan” is passé and it’s now jowa, making Chiz laugh. He doesn’t consider it a problem “na inaapi siya ng parents ni Heart?” “As long as hindi si Heart ang umaapi sa akin, okay lang.”
How about the demolition job against him even in text messages? “Hindi yung mga kasama ko sa senado ang may gawa niyan. Para sa labang 2016 ito doon sa mga naghahangad na tumakbo bilang president. Wala pa nga akong dinedeklarang tatakbo ako, sinimulan na nila ang paninira sa akin.”
Susan Roces is campaigning for his reelection. “I also endorsed him in 2007 and he didn’t disappoint me,” she says. “With his sterling performance, I’m sure the black propaganda against him won’t work.”
