By Raïssa Robles – In the year 2009, two months before the deadline for filing of candidacy for 2010 presidential race, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero gave me a one-on-one interview.

He was then running third in voters’ preference surveys.

Even then I sensed a certain hesitation on his part to answer questions that began with the phrase – “if you were president” – or – “what would you do if you became president.” His ambivalence became more apparent as weeks went by.