Escudero will settle for VP in 2010 - Osmeña

Senator Francis Escudero will run as an independent vice presidential candidate, his former campaign manager, former senator Sergio "Serge" Osmena III, said Monday. In an interview with GMA’s Unang Hirit, Osmeña, who recently decided to run for senator as an independent candidate, said he might join Escudero and support the latter’s vice presidential bid. “Wala po (siyang presidente). Mag-i-independent candidate for vice president siya," Osmeña said when asked by broadcast journalist Arnold Clavio. “We were together before. Iniwanan ko lang siya dahil very close ako sa Aquino family lalo na kay Cory Aquino (I left him before because of my close relationship with the Aquino family especially to former President Corazon Aquino)," he added. It was then that he decided to become part of the Liberal Party’s senatorial slate. However, Osmeña recently left the ticket of Senators Benigno Simeon Aquino III and Manuel Roxas II, LP’s presidential and vice presidential bet, respectively, due to the entry of former senator and socioeconomic secretary Ralph Recto. [See: Serge Osmeña confirms bolting LP over Recto entry and Recto ‘surprised’ at Osmeña's defection from LP] Asked to confirm Osmena’s statement, Escudero said in a text message to GMANews.TV that he is "mulling it (vice presidential candidacy) …but no final decision yet."

In October, Escudero left the Nationalist People’s Coalition to have, according to him, a free hand in his political decisions. He said he has four options: run as president, run as vice president, run as an independent and not to run at all. [See: Chiz leaves NPC, defers anew announcement of 2010 plans] In the same television interview, Osmeña said that his decision to leave the Aquino-Roxas ticket is final, but he will continue supporting the candidacy of the two senators. “Tuloy po pero pag gagawin uli itong un-understandable decision, baka bumaligtad ang isip ko (I still support them but if they will continue doing these kinds of decisions, I might change my mind," he said. He said several political parties have been inviting him to join them but he stood by his decision to run as independent. “So I can maintain my credibility. Someone should guard all the parties and fiscalize things that should be fiscalized," he said. He added that his supporters urged him to pursue his bid as a senator. - GMANews.TV