Francis Joseph "Chiz" Guevara Escudero

Francis Joseph "Chiz" Guevara Escudero (born October 10, 1969) is a current member of the Philippine Senate, having been elected in 2007.

Escudero had previously served as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives from the First District of Sorsogon, and as the Minority Floor Leader of the 13th Congress of the Philippines on his third and last House term.

He is also the Secretary General of the United Opposition, and a member of the Nationalist People's Coalition.

Early life and career

Escudero was born on October 10, 1969 in Manila , Philippines , the middle child of the three children of former Agriculture Secretary Salvador "Sonny" H. Escudero III and educator Evelina B. Guevara. His father was elected in 2007 to the House seat vacated by his son.

Escudero is married to the former Christine Elizabeth R. Flores who is a singer and stage actress. They have two children, fraternal twins, born September 7, 2007.
Education

Escudero attended the University of the Philippines Integrated School for both his Elementary and Secondary Education, and graduated in 1981 and 1985 respectively. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City in 1988 and Bachelors of Laws at the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1993. He received his Masters in International and Comparative Law at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D. C. in 1996.

At the University of the Philippines , Escudero was Secretary General of the Association of Law Students of the Philippines from 1992–1993. He also joined the Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity and was a member of the Alpha Phi Beta Debating Team which was the 1991 U.P. Open Debate Champion. A consistent honor student, he was a member of the Order of the Purple Feather or the U.P. Law Honor Society from 1989–1993.

Private sector

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Escudero was a teaching assistant at the Department of Political Science, University of the Philippines in 1988–1989. In 1989, he became Junior Political Analyst of the Batangas Development Planning office.

From 1993–1994, he was Junior Associate at the Bautista, Picazo, Buyco, Tan and Fider Law Office. After this, he was Legal Consultant for the UNLAD Ship Management and Manning Corp. and Legal Counsel for the Crusade Against Violence (CAV), both in 1994 to 1995. Since 1995 until the present, he is a partner of the Escudero, Marasigan, Sta. Ana, Vallente and Villareal Law Office (EMSAVIL Law).

From 1996 to 1998, he was a Senior Lecturer at the College of Law at the University of the Philippines . He was also lecturer at the Graduate School of the Ateneo de Manila University in 2000.

From May to August 2000, he hosted Ngayon na Pinoy, a television program that aired on RPN 9. He anchored the radio programs "Magandang Umaga, Bayan," at the Angel Radio, DZAR 1026 AM, Usapang de Campanilla and Usapang Legal, both at DZMM. He penned a column, "Usapang Legal ni Chiz Escudero" (later renamed "Say Chiz") in the newspapers Abante and Abante Tonite.

On July 3, 2000, Escudero was named a Commander of the Philippine Navy Reserve Command

Political career

Escudero's initiation into the political arena and into the art of addressing big crowds began in his teens in the '80s, when he helped organize the local campaigns of his father. Escudero explained: "In 1984, I was part of the postering brigade in my dad's campaign for assemblyman. In 1987, I handled the youth; in 1992, I handled the headquarters and arranged logistics. In 1995, I handled last minute operations, and in 1998, I was finally the candidate!"

He first indicated his inclination towards politics at age of 22 when he expressed interest to run for public office as municipal councilor of Sorsogon City . At age 25, he again indicated an intent to run for the office of the mayor of Sorsogon City . But for both occasions, the family's opinion, especially that of his father's, that he finish his law studies first before beginning a political career, prevailed. In response to the wishes of his family, he finished his Law studies first before entering politics.

House of Representatives

As a fourth-generation Escudero to serve in public office, he began his political career at age 28 in 1998 as the representative of the 1st District Sorsogon for the 11th Congress of the Philippines . He was elected Assistant Majority Floor Leader of the 11th Congress from June 1998 to November 2000 and became Second Deputy Majority Floor Leader of the 11th Congress in November 2000 to January 2001. He was Assistant Deputy Majority of the 11th Congress from January to June 2001.

Escudero was the campaign spokesperson for the defeated Philippine presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. He is currently the spokesman for the United Opposition's Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino and House Minority Leader. He is a member of the House Committee on Rules.

As for his term in congress which ends in 2007, he said: "Three years is too short for a good official, too long for a bad one. Four is ideal. I feel tired—I used to have only five white hairs!—but I still want to find out, at age 35, if this will still be my career path or whether I should move to the private sector. I wouldn't want to reach 50 still hoping to be something in government which I can never be."
Senator

On January 30, 2007, Escudero filed his candidacy for the Philippine Senate.[1] He was elected to the Senate with the second highest tally of votes, slightly behind Loren Legarda To date, he has already filed 224 bills and resolutions of significance in the Senate since assuming office.

He is also known as one of the most productive committee chairmen in the Senate[citation needed] having acted on all bills and resolutions referred to his committees, the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws and the Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies

Role and stand on Philippine political issues

Escudero was one of the pro-impeachment congressmen who were the prime movers for the initiation of impeachment proceedings for current Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. In 2005, he voted against the dropping of impeachment complaints against the president. His explanation summarizes his stand: "It is the truth that has lost. But the search for the truth does not end today. The president and her allies will always be haunted by questions." Despite the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines ' (CBCP) refusal to back Arroyo's impeachment in 2006, Escudero insisted that the impeachment process would continue as "the only available legal and peaceful means at arriving at the truth."

Escudero maintained the same vote against dismissing the impeachment complaints against Arroyo in 2006, retaining his original vote the previous year.