Escudero abandons 2010 presidential bid

(Updated 3:03 p.m.) Saying this is not the right time, Senator Francis Escudero announced on Tuesday that he would not run in the coming May 2010 presidential elections. "Akala ko madali magdesisyon, hindi pala. Hindi pala presidency at all cost kung lalamunin lang ako ng sistema. I decided not to run as president," Escudero said in a press conference held at the Kalayaan Hall of Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City. (I thought it was easy to come up with a decision, but I was wrong. I don't intend to run for president if I would only be eaten up by the system. I decided not to run as president.) "Marahil hindi ito ang tamang panahon para sa atin (Maybe this is not the right time for me to run as president)," he added. Escudero said he remains undecided who to support in the presidential and vice presidential race. In a text message to reporters, Senator Loren Legarda said she respects and welcomes Escudero's decision. "I hope he can help me in fighting poverty, hunger and climate change," said Legarda, vice presidential bet of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC). In a statement, NPC spokesperson and Valenzuela City Rep. Rex Gatchalian said the party hopes Escudero would now throw his support behind Legarda. “We are of strong belief that despite his decision to embark on his own political journey, Senator Escudero is still fully committed to seeing and bringing out changes for the betterment of our country, and the best possible way for him to realize his vision is for him to throw his support to Sen. Legarda’s bid," Gatchalian said. Escudero has long been groomed to be the NPC's presidential bet in 2010, but on October 28, he announced his resignation from the party he joined in 1998. [See: Chiz leaves NPC, defers anew announcement of 2010 plans] He cited three reasons for doing so: a presidential candidate must not belong to any party, a candidate must not be tied to his party, and that he believes he can perform his job better if he is his own man. Only last Monday, former senator Sergio "Serge" Osmeña III claimed that Escudero will seek the vice presidency in next year's national elections. [See: Escudero will settle for VP in 2010 - Osmeña] Escudero's announcement, however, proved Osmeña wrong. - with Jam Sisante/RSJ, GMANews.TV