Philippines Could Elect Youngest President in Country's History

Philippine Senator Francis (Chiz) Escudero, who turned 40 last October, announced his plans to seek the presidency. If he wins, the senator will be the youngest president in the history of Philippine politics.

The Philippine constitution prohibits any of its citizens from becoming president of the country unless he reaches the age of 40 on election day. Next year Filipinos will elect a new president, vice-president, 24 senators, more than 200 congressmen together with local government officials, from governors to councilors of towns and cities all over the country. The Philippines will have its first electronic or computerized vote counting in its election history next year. Close to P10 billion has been set aside by the government to acquire vote counting machines including equipment and software to ensure that next year's election is credible, honest and orderly. One of the possible presidential candidates who has declared his intention to seek the presidency is incumbent senator Francis (Chiz) Escudero, a former congressman from Bicol region in southern Philippines. Senator Escudero is one of the topnotchers in the last senatorial elections. If he is elected, he will become the nation's youngest president in the country's political history. The young senator has an impressive credentials. He was born on October 10, 1969 in Manila. His father is a former Philippine secretary of agriculture and a congressman from Sorsogon. Escudero is married to Christine Flores, a singer and actress. The have two fraternal twins. 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. Escudero is very popular among the young voters for his youthful disposition and looks. Aside from his admirable credentials, the senator is also very popular with the masses for espousing "pro poor programs" and for consistently criticizing government for its inability to minimize corruption in government institutions. Among Escudero's possible opponents include former house speaker and Senate President Manny Villar, Derfense Secretary and former congressman Gilbert Teodoro, former congressman and current senator Noynoy Aquino, former president Joseph Estrada, former Olongapo Mayor and senator Richard Gordon and Evangelist Bro.Eddie Viilanueva.