Chiz Escudero will run as President

Chiz Escudero--desidido sa pagbabago

Baring anything out of the ordinary, Chiz Escudero will declare his presidential bid between November 17 to 19. Sources say Escudero is just fixing some logistical problems, trying to tie loose ends in organizational and his networks and firming up commitments from cause-oriented and business groups.

Escudero is relying on the Filipino-Chinese community for support. Chiz enjoys the trust and confidence of most Chinoy businessmen. Some say, even the mall tycoon himself, Henry Sy and beer magnate Lucio Tan backs his bid for the presidency.

Should Escudero really proceed with his plan, his campaign would probably be a lean one. He would probably do a Lacson—running without a vice president and carrying with him only a handful of senatorial aspirants.

What some supporters fear is when Escudero mishandles his re-entry into the presidential derby. This is harder than that earth-shaking event called resignation from the NPC. His re-entry will either be accepted as a welcome news or will just be junked by others.

What this means is that: (1) all negotiations between his camp and the Liberals went to naught and (2) this spells the doom for any coalition or unity of the opposition. The fractious nature of the opposition will lead to either a Villar or Noynoy win.