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MANILA, Philippines ? Senator Francisco ?Chiz? Escudero vehemently denied on Thursday that the measly P200 million funding allegedly committed by the Nationalist People?s Coalition (NPC) was the reason why he left the party.
?That?s not true. Money is not the issue and no money has been talked about in the party. Principle and conviction are behind my decision to leave the party,? Escudero said in Filipino over ABS-CBN?s morning show, ?Umagang Kay Ganda.?
The party allegedly promised Escudero P5 billion in campaign funds for his presidential bid next year but the amount was reduced to P200 million allegedly because of his declining performance in the surveys.
But the senator denied this, saying that on the contrary, he had never lost the support of the group.
?The party has not become lukewarm to my bid. The support remains and it has neither waned nor disappeared,? he said.
Escudero said he maintained a good relationship with the NPC?s founder, businessman Eduardo ?Danding? Cojuangco, and the party?s vice presidential candidate, Senator Loren Legarda, even after severing ties with them.
Escudero issued the clarification despite persistent talks that Cojuangco might allegedly throw his support behind his nephews, Senator Benigno ?Noynoy? Aquino III and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, who are both seeking the presidency in 2010.
?I believe his [Cojuangco] last statement . . . that he will support the part?s standard-bearer,? said Escudero.
The senator also dismissed the possibility of a Teodoro-Escudero tandem in 2010 as the senator reiterated his previous statements that he would not join the administration.
He said he had closed the door on the administration a long time ago.
?I have been with the opposition for eight years. I cannot move to the administration especially since it will end its term soon,? he said.
?Apart from that, I respect Secretary Gilbert Teodoro but I think what you?re suggesting is impossible and it won?t happen,? he said.
