Poe on honesty as election issue: Truthfulness is key

MANILA, Philippines – While honesty among candidates may not be an issue to others, reelectionist Senator Grace Poe on Friday said every candidate must be truthful about their intentions.

“Alam mo para sa ‘kin tamang walang perpekto na tao ‘diba sabi nga nila, every saint has a past every sinner has a future so ang importante moving forward, magpakatotoo ka na dapat yung intention mo ay tapat,” Poe said in an interview after the 2019 Youth Entrepreneurship Summit in Pasay City.

(Nobody is perfect.  What is important is to be truthful about your intentions).

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio earlier said “honesty should not be an issue” since all candidates are liars, anyway.

The presidential daughter issued the statement in defense of administration-backed senatorial candidate and former Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go who has been accused of tapping government funds to fuel his candidacy.

“They deliberately say false statements on stage about and against the administration of President Duterte. So lahat sila sinungaling. Lahat ng tao sa mundong ito, sinungaling (So they are all liars. Everybody lies),” Duterte-Carpio said on Wednesday.

Poe said candidates must gain the trust of the people they are serving or want to serve.

“Ako simple lang naman, public service is a public trust and for you to have trust you have to be truthful,” Poe said. / gsg