Chiz pays Noynoy a visit, says they merely listened to old songs

President-apparent Sen. Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III received on Friday afternoon a visit from a fellow lawmaker who played a key role in his presidential campaign. Sen. Francis Escudero arrived at 3:20 p.m. at Aquino's house along Times Street in Quezon City along with Aquino's legal counsel Paquito "Jojo" Ochoa. "Bumisita lang. Unang pagbisita ko sa kaibigan matapos siya manalo, binati ko at sa unang pagkakataon natawag ko rin siyang Mr. President," Escudero told reporters after the visit, which lasted more than two hours. (We just paid him a visit. This is my first visit to him after he won. I congratulated him and for the first time I called him Mr. President.) Escudero appeared surprised when he saw reporters camped out in front of Aquino's house at about 3:20 p.m. He and Ochoa entered the house through an alternate entrance. Ochoa, speculated to be Aquino's incoming executive secretary, kept a low profile after the visit and shied away from reporters while Escudero granted an interview, even though he and Escudero left the area together. Escudero helped campaign for Aquino in the last presidential race, but backed the vice presidential bid of Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, a rival of Aquino's runningmate, Mar Roxas. He was also credited for lending some of his staff to Aquino's campaign. Interviewed after the visit, Escudero insisted they did not discuss anything "serious," and that they merely listened to old songs. Escudero brushed off speculations he may get a Cabinet post for his help, saying he wants to finish his term as senator until 2013. "Wala akong balak pumasok sa administrasyon ni Sen. Aquino. In fairness sa kanya wala siyang inalok na pwesto. Meron akong mandato bilang senador hanggang 2013 at tatapusin ko yan," he said. (I have no intentions to serve in Aquino's Cabinet. In fairness to him, he never brought the matter up. I have a mandate as senator until 2013 and I intend to complete it.) "Walang seryosong usapan kaugnay sa bansa, gobyerno o papasok na administrasyon. Bumisita lamang ang isang kaibigan sa kanyang kaibigan at bumati sa kanyang pagkapanalo. Walang dagdag," he said. (We did not take up serious matters about the country, the government, and the next administration. A friend merely paid a visit to his friend, congratulating him on his victory, nothing more.) - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV