No hurt feelings.

That was what Rep. Mark Cojuangco (Pangasinan, 5 th District) said last night about Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero's quitting the Nationalist People's Coalition.

“We respect his wanting to take a different path,” he said.

The congressman, who is the son of NPC founder and business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco, told the DAILY STAR he sought an audience with Escudero yesterday afternoon.

Cojuangco said he had felt a little bit hurt by some of the things Escudero said Wednesday, so he sought a clarification from the senator.

The solon said Escudero told him he was not alluding to the NPC or to his father, when he said “Whoever will run or will become president of the country can't fulfill all the things that he should do … when his hands and feet are shackled, his eyes are blindfolded and mouth gagged.”

Escudero explained that he was referring to the need for a presidential candidate to be free of any political party, Cojuangco said.

Cojuangco pointed out that Escudero was never dictated on, or shackled when he was with the NPC.

He said he was relieved to know that Escudero did not feel that the party had done anything to hurt him.

Escudero was treated fairly and squarely by the party and we remain friends, he added.

Escudero explained that he left the NPC because he wants to seek a political paradigm free from the political structure of all parties, to be able to act on his gut, not go through a process with party members, and to do things his way, Cojuangco said.

NPC is very conservative and Escudero has more radical positions, Cojuangco said.

For example, while Escudero wants to grant a P125 wage hike, the NPC is concerned that it might cause the collapse of businesses, and while he wants the CARP debts of farmers to LandBank condoned, the party wants an inventory first, Cojuangco said.

The senator wants to take things faster than the NPC is willing to do, he added.

So the NPC is back to the drawing board and will definitely field Loren Legarda as its vice president to victory, he said.

NO LAKAS MERGER

Cojuangco reiterated that there is no likely merger of the NPC with the Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

Meanwhile, Escudero yesterday denied that funding and money were factors in his decision to quit the NPC.

Escudero, in a press release from his office, also doused rumors that he will join administration bet Secretary Gilberto Teodoro's ticket.

“I have the utmost respect for Secretary Teodoro. However, I have been a part of the genuine opposition and it would be impossible for me to be a candidate for the administration party,” he added.

In the same press release, Escudero also said that money was never a factor for his resignation and that he properly relayed his intentions to NPC officials.

“The subject of financing was never discussed, nor was it ever an issue within the party. My resignation was a matter of principles and conviction," he said.

He clarified that he resigned because a president should not be tied down to a political party, the press release said.

“I never prioritized money in my career. I live in a simple house with my simple family. I didn't dream of having money when I went into public service,” he said.

The 40-year-old senator Wednesday announced that he would no longer be part of the NPC. He pointed out that only a united citizenry, and not a single party or group, can solve the many deep-seated problems of the country.

Escudero said political parties have become obstacles to genuine and meaningful change, his press release said.*CPG

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