After bashing Senator Francis Escudero for alleged ineptness as a lawyer and as a former congressman of his province, two senatorial hopefuls of the Nacionalista Party on Sunday said the opposition solon is welcome as Senator Manuel Villar’s running mate in the 2010 polls.

At the second anniversary edition of Ayes and Nays News Forum held at Island Cove in Kawit, Cavite, NP spokesman Gilbert Remulla and former United Opposition spokesman Adel Tamano told House reporters that they believe Escudero is highly qualified to run in 2010 but only as Villar’s running mate. The tandem also depends whether an alliance can be forged between Escudero’s Nationalist People’s Coalition and the NP.

The NP leaders also disputed the latest Social Weather Stations survey placing former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada on top of all the other 2010 presidential aspirants and positioning Villar only in second place.

Tamano, president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, pointed out that there was actually a statistical tie on account of the margin of error of 2.5 percent.