Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has reportedly turned down ONE BILLION PESOS offered to him in exchange for withdrawing from the presidential race, two sources have just now told me separately. Wow.
I tried phoning his cell but he’s not answering. I have no reason not to believe my two sources because both are highly reliable and IN THE LOOP.

I was told Senator Chiz will announce today at the earliest that he will push through with his candidacy but leave the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) of businessman Eduardo Cojuangco. He has nothing to lose. He will look good and even if he loses, he is still a senator with a mandate till 2013.

The sources both said the NPC founder had forged an agreement to pair off NPC official, Senator Loren Legarda, with Senator Manuel Villar, chair of the Nacionalista Party who is running for president.

Doesn’t this smack of an arranged marriage? They mentioned Senator Eduardo Angara as the marriage broker.

Anyway, Ms. Loren, who professes to be single right now, is the happy bride.

Wonder how much her dowry will cost Cojuangco who is still trying to wangle total control of San Miguel Corporation.