Frontrunner Grace Poe casts vote in San Juan

MANILA, Philippines — Reelectionist Senator Grace Poe, a frontrunner in pre-election surveys, cast her vote at Sta. Lucia Elementary School in San Juan City on Monday.

Poe, an independent candidate, arrived at the school around 12 noon to cast her vote at precinct number 0349A.

Poe was earlier unable to vote because the vote counting machine (VCM) assigned to her precinct malfunctioned.

READ: Poe voting delayed as vote counting machine malfunctions

When asked if she is aiming to be number one in the Top 12, Poe said: “Para sakin, syempre pag nandun ka, isang pribilehiyo yun, nakakataba ng puso.”

“Pero ako’y nagpapasalamat na lang na kahit papano, nakakapasok tayo diba? Hindi masyadong pressured, hindi masyadong nakakanerbyos masyado,” she added.

Poe had consistently emerged as the top choice in pre-election surveys alongside reelectionist Senator Cynthia Villar.

In the latest Pulse Asia survey, however,  Poe was second to third place and received a 47.7 percent voter preference.

Villar enjoyed a solo lead in the said survey.

“Ginawa natin lahat ng ating makakaya sa kampanya na ‘to. Wala tayong nilamangan. Bilang isang independent, walang makinarya pero masaya na nga ako e kasi nakakapasok tayo diba, doon pa sa medyo bandang itaas,” Poe said.

“Kaya magaan na magaan ang loob ko ngayon eh. Kasi kung ano man ang magiging hatol ng ating mga kababayan, basta malinis ang halalan, ‘yun ang mahalaga,” she added.  (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)