Sorsogon Governor Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero today filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) with the poll body to seek a fresh mandate in the Senate which he had served for two full terms, offering his long years of experience as a public servant to the next administration in solving a slew of economic and public health problems set off by the outbreak of COVID-19.
Escudero, through Atty. George Garcia, his election lawyer, filed the former’s COC at 8:12 a.m. at the temporary office of the Commission on Elections set up in the premises of Hotel Sofitel in Pasay City as part of the rigid health protocols to reduce COVID-19 virus risks with the expected deluge of filings from October 1 to 8 of candidates seeking national and local elective positions in the May 2022 general elections.
“I will place my name once again in the ballot for the Senate in the hope that I will be able to do my part in helping our country recover from this pandemic after this administration,” Escudero said. “With all the problems confronting us, all hands-on deck dapat.”
“Ako po ay kakandidato para madagdag iyong mga pwede ko na maiambag sa muling pagbangon ng bansa kasi iyong susunod na magiging presidente ay sobrang laki ng problema na kanyang haharapin. Kailangan nya ng tulong ng bawat isa. Kung sakaling ako ay mahahalal, dala ko sa Senado ang alam ko, nalalaman at karanasan ko,” he said.
At the same time, Escudero said he would push for legislation that would strengthen local government units (LGUs), which devolved powers under the law, particularly in this time of pandemic, have been greatly undermined by decisions singularly emanating from the national government.
“Kailangan palakasin pa ang ating mga LGUs at bigyan pa nang higit na autonomy. Ang ating mga mayor at governor ang higit na nakakaalam ng tunay na sitwasyon sa kanilang mga lokalidad. Nararapat lang na sila ay pakinggan at manguna sa pagdedesisyon sa kanilang mga lugar,” said the Sorsogon governor.
Escudero began his public service as a congressman representing the first district of Sorsogon in 1998 and was reelected for two more terms. He staged a successful senatorial bid that ranked him the 2nd candidate with the highest number of votes in 2007— his first term. He sought a second term in 2013 and landed number 4 in the senatorial race.
Landmark laws
One of his key legislations as first-term senator was Republic Act (RA) 9504, which exempted minimum wage workers from paying income tax and increase personal exemption for other employees. He also sought to increase the maximum insurance coverage of bank deposits to Php500,000 to give depositors more protection under RA 9576.
He also sponsored RA 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, that allowed free tuition and other school fees in state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges accredited and recognized by the Commission on Higher Education, and state-run technical-vocational institutions.
With Escudero at the helm of the Senate Committee on Justice on Human Rights, the country saw the enactment of four key laws that provided social and human rights protection to the Filipino people.
These include the Anti-Vagrancy Law (RA 10158), the Anti-Torture Act (RA 9745) and the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act (RA 10353), which became Asia’s first “desaparecidos” law that made the crime of enforced disappearance punishable by imprisonment.
His solid track record in the field of human rights was further cemented when he co-authored and sponsored RA 10368, or the Human Rights Victims and Recognition Act of 2013, which took cognizant of the heroism and sacrifices of Filipinos who were victims of summary execution, torture, enforced or involuntary disappearance, and other gross human rights violations during the Martial Law years in the country. The recognition, the law says, should be in the form of monetary and non-monetary reparations.
Under various laws that created 284 courts across the country during his 12 years in the Senate, Escudero was responsible for the creation of 121 local courts and co-authored and sponsored 163 others—measures meant to serve justice efficiently and effectively for those who are in the countryside.
Awards and recognition
In 1999, then Sorsogon representative, Escudero was awarded the Youth Achiever in Government and named in 2000 as Most Outstanding Congressman and Outstanding Public Servant of the Year.
In 2005, he was one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of the Philippines awardees in recognition of his youth leadership. Two years later, Escudero was named Asia’s News Network’s Asia’s Idols, the only Filipino to receive that award at the time.
In 2008, he was given the Anak TV Seal as the Most Admired TV Personality. He was also honored by the World Economic Forum (WEF) 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.
In 2012, he received the Rotary Golden Wheel Award for Political Governance and Legislation.