Poe remains cautious about revealing 2016 plans

Senator Grace Poe. PRIB

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Grace Poe on Thursday said she is cautious about revealing her plans for the 2016 presidential elections to avoid a repeat of what happened to the presidential campaign of her father, Fernando Poe Jr., during the 2004 polls.

Poe issued this statement after Vice President Jejomar Binay said Thursday that Poe could be his vice presidential running mate in the 2016 polls.

“Sa mga sumuporta sa tatay ko, salamat. Sila ang unang nagsasabi na kaya mo ‘yan [running as president in the 2016 polls] sa pangalan ng tatay mo. Kaya nga ako nag-iingat dahil sa nangyari sa tatay ko. Hindi ko basta pinapasok ang mga ganyang desisyon,” Poe said in a radio interview Thursday night.

Poe did not expound about her fears, but many political observers believed that she is the best alternative presidential candidate amid the controversies hounding two prominent presidential wannabes, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Manuel Roxas II.

The neophyte senator said that she is thankful of the people’s support and confidence in her that she is fit for higher office.

“Salamat sa patuloy na pagbigay ng suporta at moral support. Bago pa lang ako at marami pa akong dapat matutunan. Hindi naman malaki ang suweldo sa Senado tapos binabatikos ka pa. Kaya kapag meron naman pumupuri sa iyo at nakakapansin sa trabaho mo, yun naman ang nakakagaan ng trabaho,” Poe added.

Fernando Poe Jr. faced former president and now Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the 2004 presidential polls that Arroyo won. The results of the elections were allegedly marred with fraud.

For her part, Poe has repeatedly denied that she will seek a higher government post.

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