Supporters surround vice-presidential candidate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero during his campaign sortie in Daet, Camarines Norte on Thursday. Escudero is running against 3 others — Gringo Honasan, Leni Robredo and Antonio Trillanes IV (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — Senator Francis Escudero on Wednesday tagged the administration as the lone entity capable of cheating in the May 9 elections, but expressed belief that President Benigno Aquino III would not allow it to happen.
“Ang may kakayahan lang mandaya, administrasyon. Walang iba,” Escudero said at a press conference at the Senate when asked if he thinks administration standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II is capable of rigging the polls.
When pressed if he thinks Aquino and Roxas would allow cheating to mar the elections, Escudero, who is running for vice president, only vouched for the President’s character.
“Hindi ako close kay Secretary Roxas. Kaya ko lamang magsalita sa pagkakakilala ko kay Pangulong Aquino. Ang sagot ko ay hindi at umaasa ako na hindi at hindi siya nagbago,” he said.
Roxas, on the other hand, dismissed Escudero’s statement, saying it is not based on facts.
“Itong mga paratang ay mga salita ito ng mga wala namang pinanghahawakang pruweba,” Roxas told reporters in a separate media briefing.
Roxas also questioned the timing of Escudero’s statement, noting that he could have raised concerns on the conduct of the presidential elections through a Senate investigation.
“Bakit ngayon nalang lumalabas ‘yan? Itong schedule ng 2016 election ay matagal nang alam. Lahat ng paghahanda, dumaan sa pagsusuri ng ating kongreso at ng ating Senado,” he said.
Roxas noted that seven senators are running for higher positions, including presidential candidates Senators Grace Poe, who is Escudero’s running mate, and Miriam Defensor Santiago.
The other five are vice-presidential candidates, including Escudero, and Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., Gringo Honasan, and Antonio Trillanes IV.
“Ni isa sa kanila, walang sinabi itong nakaraang mga taon na ito,” Roxas said.
“All seven of them, walang sinabi, walang imik, wala kang nadinig sa kanila. Tapos ngayon, dudungisan nila ‘yung malinis na halalan na sinisikap nating mangyari,” he added.
Meanwhile, in a separate interview in Quezon, Poe appeared to have taken a swipe at Roxas when she mentioned the sudden emergence of surveys from virtually unknown entities.
“Di ba merong isang nagsasabing kandidato, noon pa man mananalo daw siya, mananalo siya, but napaka-kampante? At ngayon nakikita natin meron din silang sariling survey nila na nilabas na hindi naman natin kilala ‘yung kumpanya na nagpapakita na lamang na siya,” she said without mentioning any names.
The Liberal Party said the results of the latest Pulse Asia survey showing Roxas edging out Poe by a point in the presidential race only confirms the trend of D’Strafford, Exponent M, and TNS surveys that he is “on track to win” in the upcoming elections.
When a reporter asked whether Poe doubts Roxas’ surge in the survey conducted by some polling firms, she said: “Hayaan mo na, ayoko nang mag-comment diyan. Basta I will just follow the survey that has me at the lowest para continue lang ang trabaho.”
She, however, urged voters to choose who their leaders wisely so that the country’s progress will not be nipped in the bud.
“Sa ating mga kababayan, iboto niyo kung sino sa tingin niyo ang nararapat sa bansa, na hindi magkakagulo dito, na gagalangin ang inyong karapatan at bibigyan kayo ng sapat na tulong para hindi naman kayo mapag-iwanan