By Llanesca T. Panti, Reporter

Opposition Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero has rejected the idea of being the running mate of Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., citing Villar’s involvement in the alleged double insertion of funds for the C-5 road extension project.

“Impossible. It [being Villar’s vice presidential candidate] will never happen. I stand for good governance,” Escudero said in a statement.

He was reacting to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey pegging the Villar-Escudero tandem as likely winners in the May 2010 race to Malacañang.

The SWS survey showed that the Villar-Escudero ticket topped the field with 36 percent approval, while the tandem of former President Joseph Estrada and Sen. Loren Legarda came in second with 28 percent. Rounding up the top three approval getters was is the slate Vice President Noli de Castro and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro with 11 percent.

“Given what I have seen and read about the allegations raised in the C-5 controversy, it seems to be just the tip of the iceberg. I cannot in good conscience run with or under him,” Escudero said. He was reported to have been chosen as the standard-bearer of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Instead, Escudero urged Villar to face the Senate Committee of the Whole hearing on the ethics case against him set for Tuesday next week.

The billionaire senator, according to him, has launched an aggressive media campaign to deny the charges, claiming that the allegations are meant to undermine his bid for the presidency.

“If the charges are false, then there is still time for Sen. Villar to present his side before his peers in the Senate,” Escudero pointed out.

Villar has already taken the media to an inspection of the C-5 road in May this year and refuted his colleagues’ accusations, but he repeatedly refused to present his defense in earlier hearings in the Senate.

“I don’t recognize the committee so I would not participate, nor send my lawyers. What is important is that I showed the people the truth. I will not attend the hearing because I won’t achieve justice there,” he said during an earlier interview.