NAGA CITY--"Make love, not war."
This was the advice of Team PNoy bet Rep. Edgardo "Sonny" Angara to his partymate and his former law professor, re- electionist Sen. Francis " Chiz" Escudero, who has been encountering problems with his girlfriend's parents, saying that the current feud between him and the Ongpaucos could be part of the elimination process for the 2016 presidential race.
While he distanced himself from the controversy hounding Escudero, he said it would be better if the re-electionist senator would make peace with the parents of movie actress Heart Evangelista.
"Basta issue ng pag-ibig, issue ng pamilya. Mabuti ng hindi tayo nakikisali dyan, dahil napakaselan ng issue na yan," Angara said in an interview at the Villa Caceres Hotel in this city.
Rushing in defense of his former colleague in the House of Representatives, the outgoing Aurora representative vouched for Escudero's good character, saying that the latter never disrespected anyone.
"Pagkakilala ko kay Senator Chiz wala akong nakitang tao na binastos nya or hindi nya respeto. Si Chiz, isang batang congressman din yan sa panahon natin at nakikita ko nirerespeto naman niya yung matatandang congressmen, dun sa aspeto na yun wala akong makita at masasabi sa kanya," he said.
Angara said there is a "possibility" that the politics is behind the rift between the Ongpaucos and Escudero.
"Siyempre si Senator Chiz ay isang frontrunner sa survey. Siguro may mag interest siguro na madiskaril kung saka sakali," he said.
Escudero is eyed among those presidential bets in 2016.
Another Team PNoy bet, former Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villar also agreed with Angara, reminding Escudero that not take for granted the family tradition of winning the hearts of the in-laws before marrying a girl.
"When you marry a girl, you marry the whole family. That's our tradition. He should keep that in mind. Family-oriented kasi tayo," she said in an interview during the Team PNoy's sortie in Polangui, Albay.
In a separate interview, fellow Team PNoy bet Grace Poe also disputed Ongpauco's claim about Escudero's uncouth behavior.
She said Escudero, who acted as her old brother when her father, late presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr died, is a gentleman.
"I have not known him to be disrespectful especially to parents. Si Chiz pag sa mga nanay ang bait nun eh, maasikaso yun," she said.
Commenting on the drinking habit of her partymate, she said, "syempre tayo may social time off, may social drinking."
"Basta ang pagkakakilala ko sa kanya isa siyang mabuti kaibigan na maasahan mo kapag ikaw ay gipit na gipit. Noong nawala ang tatay ko kahit kasing edad ko yan parang tumayo siyang kuya ng pamilya, wala naman kami alam sa batas na legal so siya yun. Kaya malapit sa kanya ang nanay ko. Tingin ko sa mga nanay maalaga si Sen. Chiz," Poe said.
.gif)