Pinabulaanan kahapon ni Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero ang mga espekulasyon na nagkaroon sila ng sekretong pulong ni Vice President Jejomar Binay nitong weekend sa Davao City.
Sa isang press conference sa Quezon City, kinumpirma ng independent vice presidential candidate na pareho sila ni Binay na naimbitahan sa hapunang hosted ng negosyanteng si Antonio Floirendo, Jr. sa Filipino Comfort Food, isang kabubukas na restaurant, at hindi nila kasama ang kani-kanilang running mate.
Sinabi ni Escudero na alam ni Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares ang tungkol sa pagkikita nila ni Binay, at sinabing hindi pulitika ang pinag-usapan nila.
“The food was pleasant. The owner of the restaurant invited us and we saw each other there. But reports that there was a private room—that’s not true. Nothing like that happened. There were other people invited to the luncheon meeting. And some of them have already eaten,” sinabi ni Escudero sa mga mamamahayag.
“In the course of the campaign and pre-campaign, it is inevitable for candidates to ran into each other especially if they are invited in a common venue. I don’t think that’s enough to make an issue out of it,” sabi ni Escudero.
Matatandaang inendorso ni Escudero ang kandidatura ni Binay sa pagka-bise presidente noong 2010. Ngunit sinuportahan din ng senador ang imbestigasyon ng sub-committee ng Senate Blue Ribbon kaugnay ng umano’y overpriced na Makati City Hall Building at iba pang anomalyang ibinibintang sa dating alkalde ng Makati City.
“I believe there are just some groups who wish to divide me and Sen. Grace. But in reality, among all tandems, it’s me and Sen. Grace who have a long standing friendship. We have known each other for so long and if there are issues hurled against us, it won’t work. Those issues may affect other tandems but not ours,” sabi pa ni Escudero.
(Hannah L. Torregoza)
