Senator Francis Escudero has formally requested survey firms to exclude his name from any pre-election polls related to the 2028 national elections, aiming to end speculation about a possible run for higher office.
Escudero clarified that he has no plans to seek either the presidency or the vice presidency, warning that his continued inclusion in surveys could create a false impression among the public and distort polling data.
“Excluding his name is a necessary measure to ensure that survey results accurately reflect actual or highly probable candidacies, thereby upholding the interests of both the public and the polling firms’ research credibility,” his office said in a statement.
The lawmaker previously ran for vice president in 2016 as the running mate of former Senator Grace Poe, but both were defeated by former Vice President Leni Robredo and former President Rodrigo Duterte. Since then, Escudero has not indicated any intention to pursue a higher national post.
He emphasized that his priorities remain within the Senate, particularly in advancing economic legislation and supporting key sectors of the economy.
“Senator Escudero’s unwavering focus remains solely on his legislative mandate on the Senate floor: prioritizing the passage of critical economic legislation, championing robust support for MSMEs, and decisively equipping our farmers and workforce to navigate the impending global financial strain,” his office added.