Francis Escudero
Encyclopedia
Francis Joseph "Chiz" Guevara Escudero (born October 10, 1969) is a Filipino
politician who has been a member of the Philippine Senate since 2007. He previously served as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives from the 1st District Sorsogon
, and as the Minority Floor Leader of the 13th Congress of the Philippines
on his third and last House term.
He was secretary-general and spokesperson of the Genuine Opposition for a time and was a member of the Nationalist People's Coalition
from 1998 to 2009.
, Philippines
, the middle child of the three children of Representative Salvador "Sonny" H. Escudero III (1st District of Sorsogon) and educator Evelina B. Guevara.
Integrated School for both his Elementary and Secondary Education, and graduated in 1981 and 1985 respectively. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science at the University of the Philippines
in Diliman, Quezon City
in 1988 and Bachelors of Laws at the University of the Philippines
College of Law in 1993. He received his Masters in International and Comparative Law at the Georgetown University
Law Center in Washington D. C. in 1996.
At the University of the Philippines
, Escudero was Secretary General of the Association of Law Students of the Philippines from 1992–1993. He also joined the Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity and was a member of the Alpha Phi Beta Debating Team which was the 1991 U.P. Open Debate Champion. A consistent honor student, he was a member of the Order of the Purple Feather or the U.P. Law Honor Society from 1989–1993.
in 1988–1989. In 1989, he became Junior Political Analyst of the Batangas Development Planning office.
From 1993–1994, he was Junior Associate at the Bautista, Picazo, Buyco, Tan and Fider Law Office. After this, he was Legal Consultant for the UNLAD Ship Management and Manning Corp. and Legal Counsel for the Crusade Against Violence (CAV), both in 1994 to 1995. Since 1995 until the present, he is a partner of the Escudero, Marasigan, Sta. Ana, Vallente and Villareal Law Office (EMSAVIL Law).
From 1996 to 1998, he was a Senior Lecturer at the College of Law at the University of the Philippines
. He was also lecturer at the Graduate School of the Ateneo de Manila University
in 2000.
From May to August 2000, he hosted Ngayon na Pinoy, a television program that aired on RPN 9. He anchored the radio programs "Magandang Umaga, Bayan," at the Angel Radio, DZAR 1026 AM, Usapang de Campanilla and Usapang Legal, both at DZMM. He penned a column, "Usapang Legal ni Chiz Escudero" (later renamed "Say Chiz") in the newspapers Abante and Abante Tonite.
On July 3, 2000, Escudero was named a Commander of the Philippine Navy
Reserve Command
He first indicated his inclination towards politics at age of 22 when he expressed interest to run for public office as municipal councilor of Sorsogon City . At age 25, he again indicated an intent to run for the office of the mayor of Sorsogon City. But for both occasions, the family's opinion, especially that of his father's, that he finish his law studies first before beginning a political career, prevailed. In response to the wishes of his family, he finished his Law studies first before entering politics.
. He was elected Assistant Majority Floor Leader of the 11th Congress from June 1998 to November 2000 and became Second Deputy Majority Floor Leader of the 11th Congress in November 2000 to January 2001. He was Assistant Deputy Majority of the 11th Congress from January to June 2001.
Escudero was the campaign spokesperson for the defeated Philippine presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. He is currently the spokesman for the United Opposition's Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino and House Minority Leader. He is a member of the House Committee on Rules.
As for his term in congress which ends in 2007, he said: "Three years is too short for a good official, too long for a bad one. Four is ideal. I feel tired—I used to have only five white hairs!—but I still want to find out, at age 35, if this will still be my career path or whether I should move to the private sector. I wouldn't want to reach 50 still hoping to be something in government which I can never be."
.
Escudero maintained the same vote against dismissing the impeachment complaints against Arroyo in 2006, retaining his original vote the previous year.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
politician who has been a member of the Philippine Senate since 2007. He previously served as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives from the 1st District Sorsogon
Legislative districts of Sorsogon
The Legislative Districts of Sorsogon, namely the first and second are the representations of the Province of Sorsogon in the Philippine House of Representatives. Sorsogon had been divided into two congressional districts since 1907, which included Masbate until 1922...
, and as the Minority Floor Leader of the 13th Congress of the Philippines
13th Congress of the Philippines
The Thirteenth Congress of the Philippines was the meeting of the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives...
on his third and last House term.
He was secretary-general and spokesperson of the Genuine Opposition for a time and was a member of the Nationalist People's Coalition
Nationalist People's Coalition
The Nationalist People's Coalition or NPC is a political party in the Philippines.-History:The Party was founded in 1991 after some members of the Nacionalista Party led by then Rizal Governor Isidro Rodriguez bolted from the Nacionalista Party after some disagreements with Nacionalista party...
from 1998 to 2009.
Early life and career
Escudero was born on October 10, 1969 in ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, the middle child of the three children of Representative Salvador "Sonny" H. Escudero III (1st District of Sorsogon) and educator Evelina B. Guevara.
Education
Escudero attended the University of the PhilippinesUniversity of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
Integrated School for both his Elementary and Secondary Education, and graduated in 1981 and 1985 respectively. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science at the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
in Diliman, Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
in 1988 and Bachelors of Laws at the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
College of Law in 1993. He received his Masters in International and Comparative Law at the Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
Law Center in Washington D. C. in 1996.
At the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
, Escudero was Secretary General of the Association of Law Students of the Philippines from 1992–1993. He also joined the Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity and was a member of the Alpha Phi Beta Debating Team which was the 1991 U.P. Open Debate Champion. A consistent honor student, he was a member of the Order of the Purple Feather or the U.P. Law Honor Society from 1989–1993.
Private sector
Prior to becoming a lawyer, Escudero was a teaching assistant at the Department of Political Science, University of the PhilippinesUniversity of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
in 1988–1989. In 1989, he became Junior Political Analyst of the Batangas Development Planning office.
From 1993–1994, he was Junior Associate at the Bautista, Picazo, Buyco, Tan and Fider Law Office. After this, he was Legal Consultant for the UNLAD Ship Management and Manning Corp. and Legal Counsel for the Crusade Against Violence (CAV), both in 1994 to 1995. Since 1995 until the present, he is a partner of the Escudero, Marasigan, Sta. Ana, Vallente and Villareal Law Office (EMSAVIL Law).
From 1996 to 1998, he was a Senior Lecturer at the College of Law at the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
. He was also lecturer at the Graduate School of the Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
in 2000.
From May to August 2000, he hosted Ngayon na Pinoy, a television program that aired on RPN 9. He anchored the radio programs "Magandang Umaga, Bayan," at the Angel Radio, DZAR 1026 AM, Usapang de Campanilla and Usapang Legal, both at DZMM. He penned a column, "Usapang Legal ni Chiz Escudero" (later renamed "Say Chiz") in the newspapers Abante and Abante Tonite.
On July 3, 2000, Escudero was named a Commander of the Philippine Navy
Philippine Navy
The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines"....
Reserve Command
Congressional career
Escudero's initiation into the political arena and into the art of addressing big crowds began in his teenage years in the 1980s, when he helped organize the local campaigns of his father. Escudero explained: "In 1984, I was part of the postering brigade in my dad's campaign for assemblyman. In 1987, I handled the youth; in 1992, I handled the headquarters and arranged logistics. In 1995, I handled last minute operations, and in 1998, I was finally the candidate!"He first indicated his inclination towards politics at age of 22 when he expressed interest to run for public office as municipal councilor of Sorsogon City . At age 25, he again indicated an intent to run for the office of the mayor of Sorsogon City. But for both occasions, the family's opinion, especially that of his father's, that he finish his law studies first before beginning a political career, prevailed. In response to the wishes of his family, he finished his Law studies first before entering politics.
House of Representatives
As a fourth-generation Escudero to serve in public office, he began his political career at age 28 in 1998 as the representative of the 1st District Sorsogon for the 11th Congress of the Philippines11th Congress of the Philippines
The Eleventh Congress of the Philippines is the meeting of the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives...
. He was elected Assistant Majority Floor Leader of the 11th Congress from June 1998 to November 2000 and became Second Deputy Majority Floor Leader of the 11th Congress in November 2000 to January 2001. He was Assistant Deputy Majority of the 11th Congress from January to June 2001.
Escudero was the campaign spokesperson for the defeated Philippine presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. He is currently the spokesman for the United Opposition's Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino and House Minority Leader. He is a member of the House Committee on Rules.
As for his term in congress which ends in 2007, he said: "Three years is too short for a good official, too long for a bad one. Four is ideal. I feel tired—I used to have only five white hairs!—but I still want to find out, at age 35, if this will still be my career path or whether I should move to the private sector. I wouldn't want to reach 50 still hoping to be something in government which I can never be."
Senate
On January 30, 2007, Escudero filled his candidacy for the Philippine Senate. He was elected to the Senate with the second highest tally of votes, slightly behind Loren LegardaLoren Legarda
Loren Legarda is a Filipino broadcast journalist, environmentalist, and politician of Visayan ancestry, notable as the only female to top two senatorial elections . During the 2004 Philippine general election, she ran for the position of Vice-President as an Independent with Fernando Poe, Jr...
.
Role and stand on Philippine political issues
Escudero was one of the pro-impeachment congressmen who were the prime movers for the initiation of impeachment proceedings for the former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. In 2005, he voted against the dropping of impeachment complaints against the president. His explanation summarizes his stand: "It is the truth that he has lost. But the search for the truth does not end today. The president and her allies will always be haunted by questions." Despite the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' (CBCP) refusal to back Arroyo's impeachment in 2006, Escudero insisted that the impeachment process would continue as "the only available legal and peaceful means at arriving at the truth."Escudero maintained the same vote against dismissing the impeachment complaints against Arroyo in 2006, retaining his original vote the previous year.