The Philippine Online Chronicles

The first time I met with Chiz Escudero was in August 2009.  There was a bloggers Meet and Greet Chiz Escudero event.  I asked him straight out during that first meet & greet, if he was running for the presidency.Without hesitation, Chiz Escudero answered, “yes”.

At the time, I was quite impressed at how determined he was & how confident he was that he can lead the change for our Philippines.

We all know what has happened since then:

• Cory died.
• Mar Roxas dropped out of the race, and
• Noynoy Aquino is now the Liberal Party’s candidate.

Then all of a sudden, Chiz Escudero quit his party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).  Like a lot of people, like many of his supporters, I was confused.

So last Saturday (November 7), I attended a bloggers’ meeting with Chiz Escudero at Annabel’s in Quezon City.  I was excited to go as I had sooooooo many questions to ask Chiz about his plans on the presidency.

I was expecting to get a concrete answer.  To be honest, I was surprised.  Last Saturday, I saw a different Chiz from the one who met bloggers last August.  I’m not sure if he was acting or if he is just confused at the moment.  It wasn’t the same Chiz I got to admire during the first meet.

When I asked him the same question I did during the first meet and greet, about his plans to run, the answer I got was unfortunately, “not sure yet.”

Chiz Escudero said that he doesn’t know and will still need to decide.  He mentioned he’ll decide on November 15 and will share with us his decision come December 1.

What changed?

I’m confused. Why didn’t we get this vibe when we first met Chiz? Maybe the change is just a strategy? Maybe it’s his way to save himself from trailing in the surveys? Maybe rumors are true that Danding Cojuangco is no longer interested in funding his campaign? Maybe he’s really just confused and unsure if he’s the right person to lead our country?

Left and right, pundits everywhere have been talking about Chiz Escudero leaving the NPC. I can bore you with recounting all the rumors, the speculations, and retell what the pundits are saying, but I think it is best that Chiz himself say why he left the NPC:

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Let me summarize for you his points. This is what Chiz said:

• Decision to leave NPC came after much thought
• Always a maverick inside the party
• when NPC allied with Gloria, Escudero was with Erap
• was spokesperson for FPJ, when NPC was pro-administration
• has always spoken his mind
• A difference of platform/ideology exist between NPC & Escudero
• left NPC in an orderly manner & with his party elders' blessing
• is not against political parties, was misquoted
• wanted to be independent so he could become involved with everyone
• does not want to be indebted to anyone
• choice to leave wasn't about the money, as some have speculated
• if money was the issue, at least with NPC, there was money

You’ve listened to what he had to say, to clarify some of the things mentioned on television and to counter what the pundits have been speculating on.

The biggest problem I have with Chiz is that this was a different Escudero from the person I met several months back.  He was less sure of himself this time.  Maybe it is because of his indecision.  Maybe it is because we have to wait a few more weeks for him to say for sure, if he is running or not.

Should I now stop considering Escudero as a candidate?  December 1 is too long a wait for Escudero to announce his decision.  We need a president who is firm and decisive.  Maybe it is time to listen to the pundits: Chiz committed political suicide.  All I can say is, “Chiz, I’m confused.”

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