Chiz told to be cautious in dealing with Heart's parents especially if he eyes higher post

By: Maeanne Los Banos, News5

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines – Political analyst Ramon Casiple has advised reelectionist Francis "Chiz" Escudero to be cautious in dealing with the parents of his girlfriend, Heart Evangelista, saying his relations with them could affect his political career, especially if he plans to run for a higher post in 2016. 

“Pag na-mishandle, malaking danger na tamaan siya ng husto ng issue [If mishandled, there’s a big danger that he would seriously be affected by the issue],” Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform, told News5 on Tuesday.

If Escudero intends to run for president in the 2016 elections, it will be crucial for him to stay on top of the senatorial race this year, according to Casiple.

Embroiled in a controversy over his girlfriend, Escudero slid down from the number two spot in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS)-BusinessWorld survey on senatorial preferences.

The results of the March 15-17 survey, published Tuesday, saw Escudero, who is running under the administration’s Team PNoy, drop to the third-fourth spot, with a score of 48 points, from the number two post he had been holding on since December.

Escudero's current score, 14 points below the 62 percent he took in SWS’ February survey, had him tied with San Juan Representative JV Ejercito of the United Nationalist Alliance.
Taking over the number two spot was Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, running for reelection like Escudero, with a score of 57 percent.


On Tuesday, opposition senatorial bet Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito defended his father and United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) stalwart Joseph Estrada against insinuations that the latter had a hand in the attacks made by Evangelista’s parents against Escudero.

Although Ejercito admitted that Estrada and Evangelista’s parents, Rey and Cecilia Ongpauco, are friends, he said his father had nothing to do with the criticisms hurled against Escudero by his girlfriend’s parents.

“They are friends. So, ano masama doon? Meron lang magkaibigan, ganoon na ‘yon? Paniniwalaan na natin? That's impossible. Huwag naman nating insultuhin ‘yong pamilya sa ganoong anggulo [So what’s wrong with that? Just because they ‘re friends it’s like that? We believe that? That's impossible. Let’s not insult the family through that angle],” said Ejercito.

Also, UNA senatorial bet Nancy Binay, daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, on Tuesday defended Estrada saying  “it’s not in the character” of the former president to concoct “shallow” issues for UNA’s benefit.  

Earlier, Escudero said that aside from Estrada dropping him from UNA as guest candidate, he also received information that the former president was campaigning against him.

According to Casiple, it wouldn't be surpising if Estrada and UNA would take action against Escudero for allegedly disregarding his being guest candidate of the opposition coalition. 
Also, Casiple said that if Escudero decides to seek the vice presidency, he would likely run against Estrada's son. "At the least, 'yong anak ni Erap, si Jingoy, at siya." 

Last year, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada hinted that he might follow his father's footsteps by running for vice president in 2016.  

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/58056/chiz-advised-to-be-cautious-in-dealing-with-hearts-parents-especially-if-hes-eyeing-presidency