Escudero for president in 2028   

There are and will be more news/views in the main and social media about the impeachment of VP Sara Duterte, that we will have to sort out which of them are fake news, propaganda, and relevant and useful for the Filipino people and for the country. The issue of when jurisdiction is acquired by the Senate as an impeachment court is very important and are well discussed/dissected by the lawyers. It will likely be resolved before the Senate comes up with the rules and procedures in the impeachment trials.

The start of the impeachment trial is significant, not just for political reasons but also for legal reasons, as it will affect the composition of the senators/jurors, and subject the eligibility of the impeachment complainants after the elections. This will be challenged in the courts if some of them lose in the elections. In all of these events, the pronouncements and actions of Senate President Escudero will be highlighted and will have major implications.

Escudero has been hugging the main and social media for days and in the many days to come. His statements and actions and his ability to steer the impeachment timelines and processes, get it approved by the senators/jurors, and get accepted by the public will be front page in all media. These will be show and expose Escudero as a politician, a government official and as a person. In the past few days, his press statements on the impeachment issue have been personal opinions/declarations that are tentative and awaiting approval from his colleagues, but it shows strong preferences and willingness to abide by collegial decisions.

Senator Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero a 55-year-old lawyer is now the 25th Senate President of the Philippines. He studied in the University of the Philippines from grade school up to Law school, passed the Philippine Bar in 1994, did post-graduate studies in Georgetown University, practiced law and was a Law professor. He was elected as congressman of Sorsogon at age 28 and was re-elected two more times. He had been minority and majority floor leader during his terms and got elected as senator in 2007 and again in 2022. He had been an achiever in the Senate, marshaling laws on tax exemptions on minimum-wage earners and tax exemptions among others. He also led the failed impeachment of former president Gloria Arroyo and got re-elected to the Senate in 2022 with the second-highest number of votes as senator.

Chiz Escudero, is a son of Salvador Escudero who was congressman of Sorsogon and served as Agriculture secretary during the time of Presidents Marcos Sr. to Ramos. Salvador Escudero’s reputation as a politician and government official was tainted by his association with the Marcos dictatorship, but his credentials as a technocrat prevailed as he was tapped to serve under the succeeding presidencies of Cory Aquino and Ramos. The success of Chiz in their Sorsogon bailiwick and as senator affirmed their family’s political permanence and ascendancy.

Escudero is now married to movie star, socialite, social media influencer Heart Evangelista after annulling from his first wife. While his wife is a millionaire, Chiz is not associated with any major businesses and had the lowest net worth in his declared SALN as senator. As a lawyer, politician, and government official, he is considered among the most intelligent, articulate, and astute. His years in politics and government have established alliances and made him well-known to the national electorate. He was a TOYM and Rotary awardee as a congressman.

Regardless of when and how the impeachment trial will start and end, Escudero will be in the limelight for days, weeks, and months. Regardless of what will be the outcome of the impeachment trial, Escudero will do the right thing and shine. Regardless of who will be running in the presidential election in 2028, Escudero will be a formidable contender.

The more probable impeachment scenario is that the trial will commence before the mid-term election to ensure jurisdiction, but will continue after the elections. This will also create more media exposures for the senators, congressmen/prosecutors which will be useful for their re-election, but most of all for Escudero.

With the millions of social media followers of Chiz’s wife Heart, his track record as congressman and senator, and the impeachment impact, Escudero would/should be the front runner in the 2028 presidential election. We just have to tweak a little his public persona by asking him to talk slower and less “mayabang”.