Francis Escudero

The Honorable
Francis Escudero
Senator of the Philippines
Assumed office
June 30, 2007
Chair of the Philippine Senate
Education, Arts and Culture Committee
Assumed office
February 27, 2017
Preceded by Bam Aquino
Chair of the Philippine Senate
Banks, Financial Institutions
and Currencies Committee
Assumed office
July 25, 2016
Preceded by Sergio Osmeña III
Chair of the Philippine Senate
Finance Committee
In office
July 22, 2013 – July 28, 2015
Preceded by Franklin Drilon
Succeeded by Loren Legarda
Chair of the Philippine Senate
National Defense and Security Committee
In office
July 26, 2010 – July 22, 2013
Preceded by Rodolfo Biazon
Succeeded by Antonio Trillanes
Chair of the Philippine Senate
Justice and Human Rights Committee
In office
July 23, 2007 – July 22, 2013
Preceded by Juan Ponce Enrile
Succeeded by Aquilino Pimentel III
Minority Floor Leader of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
In office
July 26, 2004 – June 8, 2007
Preceded by Carlos M. Padilla
Succeeded by Ronaldo Zamora
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives
from Sorsogon's 1st district
In office
June 30, 1998 – June 30, 2007
Preceded by Salvador Escudero
Succeeded by Salvador Escudero
Personal details
Born Francis Joseph Guevarra Escudero
(1969-10-10) October 10, 1969
Manila, Philippines
Political party Nationalist People's Coalition (Before 2009)[1][2]
Independent (2009–present)
Other political
affiliations		 Genuine Opposition (2005–2007)
Partido Galing at Puso (2015–present)
Spouse(s) Christine Flores (m. 2005; annulled 2011)
Heart Evangelista (m. 2015)
Children 2
Alma mater University of the Philippines, Diliman (BA, BL)
Georgetown University (ML)
Website Official website

Francis Joseph "Chiz" Guevara Escudero (born October 10, 1969) is a Filipino politician who has been a member of the Philippine Senate since 2007. He previously served as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives, representing the 1st District Sorsogon, where he served as the Minority Floor Leader of the House of Representatives of the Philippines. He was a leading candidate for Vice President of the Philippines in the 2016 election in May 2016, but lost, placing fourth among six candidates.

Early life

Escudero was born on October 10, 1969 in Manila, Philippines, the second of the three children of the late Salvador Escudero, former Agriculture Minister and representative of the first district of Sorsogon, and educator Evelina B. Guevara.[3][4]

Escudero was educated in the Philippine public school system. He attended the University of the Philippines Integrated School in elementary (1981) and high school (1985). He obtained his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of the Philippines Diliman (1988) and Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines College of Law (1993).[5]

At the University of the Philippines, Escudero joined the Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity and was a member of the Alpha Phi Beta Debating Team, which was the 1991 U.P. Open Debate Champion. He recalled, "The most participation I had in campus was in the debate team where we won in '91. I was also president of my Law class for four years."[6] A consistent honor student, Escudero was a member of the Order of the Purple Feather or the U.P. Law Honor Society (1989-1993). He became the Secretary General of the Association of Law Students of the Philippines on his senior year at law school (1992-1993).[7]

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Escudero was a teaching assistant at the Department of Political Science, University of the Philippines (1988–1989). In 1989, he became a Junior Political Analyst of the Batangas Development Planning office.[8]

After he received his law degree, Escudero joined the Bautista, Picazo, Buyco, Tan and Fider Law Office in 1993 as junior associate. A year later, he became a legal consultant of the UNLAD Ship Management and Manning Corp. and legal counsel of the Crusade Against Violence (CAV). By 1995, he was a partner at his own firm, the Escudero, Marasigan, Sta. Ana, Vallente and Villareal Law Office (EMSAVIL Law). He remains with the firm to this day.[7]

In 1996, Escudero received his Masters in International and Comparative Law at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.[6]

Aside from pursuing his law practice, Escudero was senior lecturer at the College of Law at University of the Philippines (1996-1998). He also taught at the Graduate School of the Ateneo de Manila University in 2000.[9]

On July 3, 2000, Escudero was named a Commander of the Philippine Navy Reserve Command.

While serving as a lawmaker, Escudero also dabbled in media. From May to August 2000, he hosted "Ngayon na Pinoy", a TV program on RPN-9. He also anchored the radio programs "Magandang Umaga Bayan" on the Angel Radio, DZAR 1026 AM; and the "Usapang de Campanilla" and "Usapang Legal" both on DZMM.

Escudero also penned a column, "Usapang Legal ni Chiz Escudero" (later renamed "Say Chiz") in two tabloids: Abante and Abante Tonite.

Political career

Congress

Escudero's involvement in politics started in the 1980s as an organizer for the local campaign of his father.[10] He first expressed interest in running for public office as municipal councilor of Sorsogon when he was 22. At 25, he again indicated his intention to run, this time as mayor of the municipality.[7] However, on both occasions, his family forbade him from entering politics and insisted that he finish his law studies before embarking on a political career.[7] Consequently, Escudero was 28 when he began his political career. He was elected representative of the first district of Sorsogon in 1998 and was one of the youngest lawmakers in the 11th Congress.

Escudero was a member of the Nationalist People's Coalition, the second biggest political party[11] in the Philippines, from 1998 to 2009.

He was elected Assistant Majority Floor Leader of the 11th Congress from June 1998 to November 2000 and became Second Deputy Majority Floor Leader from November 2000 to January 2001. He was Assistant Deputy Majority of the 11th Congress from January to June 2001. In his last term as member of the House of Representatives, he served as Minority Floor Leader from 2004 to 2007.[12]

While in Congress, Escudero pushed for the cityhood of Sorsogon. On August 16, 2000, Republic Act 8806 was passed, merging the municipalities of Sorsogon and Bacon into a component city of Sorsogon province. The law was ratified during a plebiscite on December 16, 2000, and Sorsogon functioned as a city on June 30, 2001, with the assumption into office of its first officials.[13]

In 2004, Escudero figured prominently in the Philippine presidential elections as the campaign spokesperson[14] of presidential candidate Fernando Poe, Jr., a popular movie actor. Poe eventually lost to the incumbent president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in a highly contested electoral exercise.[15][16]

When evidence of alleged electoral fraud surfaced, Escudero was among the lawmakers who moved for the impeachment[17] of then President Arroyo. However, the President's allies in Congress voted to drop the impeachment complaint.[18]

On September 6, 2005, Escudero voted no on the dropping of impeachment complaints against President Arroyo.[19] He explained, "It is the truth that has lost. But the search for the truth does not end today. The president and her allies will always be haunted by questions."[20] A new set of impeachment case was filed on 2006 and Escudero maintained his vote against its dismissal.[21] Despite another round of defeat, Escudero said the results "will not change the fact that there was cheating, lying, anomalies and stealing in government."[22]

Escudero belonged to the anti-Charter Change bloc who voted against the constitutional reform initiatives of then Speaker Jose De Venecia.[7] He believed these attempts to change the Constitution are nothing but last ditch efforts to keep the president and his allies in power.[23]

Escudero was a member of a group of NGO-legislators proposing an alternative national budget called "Imperatives of Real and Equitable Growth: An Alternative Proposal for Financing the Millennium Development Goals in the 2007 Budget". This is in response to the proposed national budget of the administration for not being perceptive to the social development needs of the Philippines.[24]

Senate

Senator Escudero during a session with the Philippine Senate, September 24, 2014

On January 30, 2007, Escudero filed his candidacy[25] for the Senate of the Philippines. He was elected to the Senate with the second highest tally of votes, slightly behind Loren Legarda.[26]

In the 14th Congress of the Philippines, Escudero chaired the Senate Committees on Justice and Human Rights; Ways and Means; and National Defense. In the 15th Congress, he headed the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights and the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. He also led the Joint Oversight Committees on Ecological Solid Waste Management and the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Clean Air Act.

On October 29, 2009, Escudero announced his resignation from the Nationalist People's Coalition and became an independent.[27][28][29] Escudero was expected to run for the presidency but he did not. Instead, he endorsed the team-up of Senator Benigno Aquino III and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay. The two political figures, who belong to opposing camps, won as President and Vice President, respectively.[30]

On October 2, 2012, Escudero filed for reelection.[31][32] Prior to the official campaign period, Escudero, Legarda, and Grace Poe were expected to run as common candidates of both the administration and opposition slates. However, the opposition group United Nationalist Alliance junked the three Senate bets.[33][34] Escudero remained independent but ran as part of the administration-backed coalition Team PNoy. Garnering 17,502,358 votes [35] out of 40,214,324[36] registered voters who actually voted, he won another term as senator.[37]

During the initial announcement of Senate chairmanships in the 16th Congress, Escudero got the Education Committee but ended up as chairman of the powerful Finance Committee.[38][39] Majority Floor Leader Alan Cayetano explained, "Because there was no decision yet on who will be the chairperson of the Committee on Finance, and since it’s one of the biggest committees or one with the largest jurisdiction, traditionally the chairman of the Committee on Finance would not have any other committee. So Senator Escudero graciously gave up the chairmanship of the committee on education because he took over the Committee on Finance.”[39]

2016 vice presidential bid

Chiz Escudero declares vice presidential bid, September 18, 2015

Citing a possible bid for higher office in the next elections, Escudero resigned as chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and as co-chair of the Joint Congressional Committee on Public Expenditures on July 28, 2015.[40][41] In his letter to Senate President Franklin Drilon, Escudero wrote, "However, given my public pronouncements regarding a possible candidacy for higher office in 2016, I believe that it behooves me to step down at this juncture to ensure that deliberations on the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) – considered the single most important piece of legislation passed by Congress each year – are untainted by suspicions or perceptions of partisan politics."[42]

Long rumored as the possible running mate of leading presidential candidate Grace Poe, Escudero officially announced his candidacy for Vice President of the Philippines on September 15, 2015 at the historic Club Filipino.[43][44] In her introduction, Poe enumerated the accomplishments of Escudero as a legislator both in the House and the Senate.[44] said, "It’s true Senator Chiz is my friend, but for the nation, my reason for teaming up with him is personal trust. He is a person who can be trusted, a person who has experience and a person who has already done something for the people." [45]

Presidential frontrunner and Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte called the combination of Poe and Escudero as an "excellent" tandem because of his political experience and her ability to provide ascendancy.[46]

A day after his declaration, the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) administered the oath-taking of 200 officials from Batangas, Laguna, and Quezon as members in part because of support for the Poe-Escudero ticket.[47][48][49] Talks are rife the NPC, in coalition with other political parties including the Nacionalista Party, the National Unity Party, and the Makabayan bloc, will back the Poe-Escudero tandem in the coming elections.[50][51] Former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office board member Florencio Noel revealed, at least eight party-list groups have also expressed support for Poe and Escudero.[52]

In early 2016, Escudero began leading the vice presidential opinion polls being statistically tied with Senator Bongbong Marcos several times, before being beaten by Marcos by April. Escudero continued to drop in April, maintaining third place behind Marcos and congresswoman Leni Robredo.[53] A day after the election, on May 10, 2016, Escudero conceded the race, placing fourth among six candidates with 12% of the votes in the unofficial Comelec transparency server count, behind Robredo, Marcos and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.[54]

Personal life

Escudero married Christine Elizabeth Flores, his first wife, in 2005. They separated after six years[55] and were granted a civil annulment in 2011.[56] Escudero has custody of their two children.[4][57]

In 2012, the senator began dating local actress and TV talk show host Heart Evangelista. Their engagement was announced[58] in August 2014, a few months after Escudero obtained Church annulment of his first marriage.[59] On February 15, 2015, Evangelista and Escudero married in Balesin Island, off the coast of Polillo, Quezon.[60][61][62]

Awards

In 1999, Escudero was awarded Youth Achiever in Government; in 2000, Most Outstanding Congressman and Outstanding Public Servant of the Year; and in 2005, he was one of Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of the Philippines awardees in recognition of his youth leadership.[63]

In 2007, Escudero was the only Filipino named as Asia's News Network's Asia's Idols.[64] In 2008, he was given the Anak TV Seal as the Most Admired TV Personality.[65] He was also honored by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader in the same year in recognition of his professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.[66][67][68]

Escudero received the Rotary Golden Wheel Award for Political Governance and Legislation in 2012.[69]

Books

References

  1. ↑ Escudero leaves NPC ABS-CBNnews.com, Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  2. ↑ http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/114444-npc-shifting-alliance-grace-poe-rodrigo-duterte
  3. ↑ "Curriculum Vitae: Hon. Francis G. Escudero" (PDF). Republic of the Philippines House of Representatives. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 May 2006. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  4. 1 2 Abuyuan, Gina. "More than This." HIPP Magazine. June 2009: p. 44.
  5. ↑ Lopez, Tony (editor). "Cover Story: Say Chiz." BizNews Asia. June 11–18, 2007: p. 20.
  6. 1 2 Aguila, Kap Maceda. "The Substance of Chiz." People Asia. June 2006: p. 48.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Lopez, Tony (editor). "Cover Story: Say Chiz." BizNews Asia. June 11–18, 2007: p. 21.
  8. ↑ "Escudero, Francis Joseph G.". Makati Business Club. 2004. Archived from the original on 2 July 2004. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  9. ↑ Gutierrez, Terrie V. "Brand New Heavies." Manual. October 2005: p. 53.
  10. ↑ Gutierrez, Terrie V. "Brand New Heavies." Manual. October 2005: p. 63.
  11. ↑ "A tale of two parties: The LP and the NPC". Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  12. ↑ "House Minority Floor Leaders and Minority Leaders | The Hrep Reference Librarian". hrepreflibrarian.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  13. ↑ "Cawaling Jr vs Comelec : 146319 : October 26, 2001 : J. Sandoval-Gutierrez : En Banc". sc.judiciary.gov.ph. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  14. ↑ "Chiz: Recognize FPJ as 2004 presidential poll winner". Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  15. ↑ "Poe vs Macapagal-Arroyo : PET Case 002 : March 29, 2005 : J. Quisumbing : PET : Resolution". sc.judiciary.gov.ph. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  16. ↑ "10 reasons to doubt the 2004 election results « The PCIJ Blog". pcij.org. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  17. ↑ "New impeachment complaint vs Arroyo filed today as ‘one-year bar’ lapses « The PCIJ Blog". pcij.org. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  18. ↑ "Arroyo escapes another impeachment try « The PCIJ Blog". pcij.org. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  19. ↑ "Impeachment 2005 and 2006: How the congressmen voted « The PCIJ Blog". pcij.org. Retrieved 2015-09-11.
  20. ↑ "The voting continues « The PCIJ Blog". pcij.org. Retrieved 2015-09-11.
  21. ↑ "Arroyo escapes another impeachment try « The PCIJ Blog". pcij.org. Retrieved 2015-09-11.
  22. ↑ "Philippine House Defeats Impeachment Bid". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2015-09-11.
  23. ↑ "Cha-cha clearly dead, says Escudero". Retrieved 2015-09-11.
  24. ↑ "An alternative budget for 2007 « The PCIJ Blog". pcij.org. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  25. ↑ "Escudero first from opposition to file candidacy for senator". Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  26. ↑ Team, COMELEC-ITD Web Development. "2007 National and Local Elections - Results :: Commission on Elections". www.comelec.gov.ph. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  27. ↑ "Escudero quits NPC". Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  28. ↑ abs-cbnNEWS.com. "(UPDATE 2) Escudero leaves NPC". Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  29. ↑ "Escudero quits NPC, mum on presidential bid | Vera Files". verafiles.org. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  30. ↑ "Aquino, Binay proclamation set at 2 p.m. Wednesday - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  31. ↑ INQUIRER.net. "Escudero files candidacy for senator". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  32. ↑ Team, COMELEC-ITD Web Development. "List of Persons who filed their Certificates of Candidacy for Senator :: Commission on Elections". www.comelec.gov.ph. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  33. ↑ "UNA junks Chiz, Loren, Grace Poe". Rappler. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  34. ↑ Clapano, Jose Rodel (February 22, 2013). "UNA junks 3 common bets". Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  35. ↑ Team, COMELEC-ITD Web Development. "Senatorial Elections :: Commission on Elections". www.comelec.gov.ph. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  36. ↑ Team, COMELEC-ITD Web Development. "Voters Turnout during the May 13, 2013 National, Local and ARMM Elections :: Commission on Elections". www.comelec.gov.ph. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  37. ↑ "Comelec proclaims top 6 senatorial bets | Election 2013, Special Reports, Home | philstar.com". www.philstar.com. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  38. ↑ "Escudero gets coveted education panel". Rappler. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  39. 1 2 "Escudero for finance, Pia gets education". Rappler. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  40. ↑ "Chiz Escudero quits as Senate finance chair ahead of polls". Rappler. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  41. ↑ Bulletin, Manila. "Escudero quits as Senate Finance Committee chairman | mb.com.ph | Philippine News". www.mb.com.ph. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  42. ↑ INQUIRER.net. "Citing ‘delicadeza,’ Escudero quits as head of 2 finance panels". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  43. ↑ Ager, Maila. "It’s official: Grace Poe, Chiz Escudero to run together in 2016". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  44. 1 2 "Grace, Chiz seal team-up | The Manila Times Online". www.manilatimes.net. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  45. ↑ Avendaño, Christine O. "Escudero: We’re running under Partido Pilipinas". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  46. ↑ "Duterte: Poe-Escudero team 'excellent'". Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  47. ↑ News, Ryan Chua, ABS-CBN. "NPC gets new members as support for Grace, Chiz grows". Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  48. ↑ Ager, Maila. "With Poe-Escudero official, exodus of politicians to NPC begins". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  49. ↑ "Ex-Arroyo budget chief backs Poe-Escudero tandem". Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  50. ↑ "Bye, Mar! Zamora sees mass exodus of LP politikos to Grace’s side - Politiko". Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  51. ↑ "NPC to keep 'open mind' on presidential bet - Politiko". Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  52. ↑ Ager, Maila. "8 partylist groups back Poe-Escudero tandem—An Waray chair". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  53. ↑ Hegina, Aries Joseph (March 22, 2016). "For the first time, Marcos beats Escudero as leading VP bet in latest poll". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  54. ↑ Leongson, Randolph B. (May 10, 2016). "Chiz Escudero concedes defeat in vice presidential race". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  55. ↑ "Sen. Chiz Escudero and wife call it quits, says Ricky Lo". Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  56. ↑ "Senator Chiz Escudero confirms annulment". Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  57. ↑ INQUIRER.net. "Escudero finds his calvary after separation from wife". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  58. ↑ Cruz, Marinel R. "Fireworks, tears at Heart Evangelista-Chiz Escudero engagement". entertainment.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  59. ↑ "Finally free: Granting of church annulment allowed Chiz to propose to Heart". Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  60. ↑ PEP.ph. "Chiz And Heart Get Married In Balesin". Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  61. ↑ "Chiz Escudero, Heart Evangelista swap I do’s at Balesin Island". Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  62. ↑ "IN PHOTOS: Heart Evangelista and Chiz Escudero at Balesin wedding reception". Rappler. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  63. ↑ Calica, Aurea (December 2, 2005). "Comedian Michael V, Escudero lead seven TOYM 2005 awardees". Philstar. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  64. ↑ "How Chiz Escudero honed his charisma". Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  65. ↑ "Anak TV". anaktvweb.com. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  66. ↑ "Press Release - World economic forum names Chiz young global leader of 2008". www.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  67. ↑ "The Forum of Young Global Leaders". The Forum of Young Global Leaders | World Economic Forum. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  68. ↑ "Four Filipinos named Young Global Leaders of 2014". Retrieved 2015-09-04.
  69. ↑ "Arnel featured in "The Golden Wheel" book to launch April 20 | Arnel Pineda Official Site". Retrieved 2015-09-04.
House of Representatives of the Philippines
Preceded by
Salvador Escudero		 Member of the Philippine House of Representatives
from Sorsogon's 1st district
1998–2007 		Succeeded by
Salvador Escudero
Preceded by
Carlos M. Padilla		 Minority Floor Leader of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
2004–2007 		Succeeded by
Ronaldo Zamora
Senate of the Philippines
Preceded by
Bam Aquino		 Chair of the Philippine Senate
Education, Arts and Culture Committee
2017–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by
Sergio Osmeña III		 Chair of the Philippine Senate
Banks, Financial Institutions
and Currencies Committee
2016–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by
Franklin Drilon		 Chair of the Philippine Senate
Finance Committee
2013–2015 		Succeeded by
Loren Legarda
Preceded by
Rodolfo Biazon		 Chair of the Philippine Senate
National Defense and Security Committee
2010–2013 		Succeeded by
Antonio Trillanes
Preceded by
Juan Ponce Enrile		 Chair of the Philippine Senate
Justice and Human Rights Committee
2007–2013 		Succeeded by
Aquilino Pimentel III
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