CHIZ CONFIRMS ATTENDANCE TO VP DEBATE

SAMBOAN, CEBU--Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero confirmed his attendance to the lone vice presidential debate to be held at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila on April 10.

Escudero welcomed the debate, saying it is an opportunity for independent bets like him to present their platform to a wide audience with the full coverage granted by media entities.

"Yes. Kaming mga kulang sa advertisement gusto naming mag-attend sa debate para makita sa TV," he said when asked in a press conference in this coastal town if he will be participating in the debate hosted by CNN Philippines.

If he had his way, the veteran legislator said, he would have wanted more vice presidential debates since they grant equal footing among independent bets and moneyed candidates, who have the resources to spend on television advertisements.

"Whether in Cebu or in Mindanao or in Luzon, as long as it will be covered (by media), it will be an opportunity for us to share our platform, we will be there," the consistent vice presidential frontrunner in all pre-election surveys said.

Unlike most of his fellow vice-presidential bets, Escudero only started advertising on television on the first day of the campaign last Feb. 9.

Monitoring done by Nielsen Philippines from Jan. 1 to Nov. 30 2015 showed Escudero only spent P30,000 on television advertisements.

On the other hand, the media research firm said Escudero's opponents like Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano had spent over P398 million; Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., P103.43 million; Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, P91.62 million; and Sen. Gregorio Honasan, P43.58 million; just for 11 months last year.