Sen. Grace Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Grace Poe said she is not yet ready to face Vice President Jejomar Binay in the 2016 presidential election.
Poe made the remarks when sought for comment on Binay’s statement that he would push through with his presidential bid even if Poe decides to join the presidential race.
“Malakas naman sya (Binay) e kahit sino namang katapat nya sya pa rin ang nakakaangat, wala naman sya talagang dapat ikabahala. Ngayon kung merong iba, sila siguro ang dapat na maghanda,” the lady senator told reporters on Monday.
But asked if she was ready to fight the Vice President, “Hindi nga ako handa eh. Kaya nga hindi rin ako nagsasabi na sigurado ako dahil pati ako, kailangan ko pa talagang isipin.”
Though his ranking fell in recent surveys, Binay remained the voters’ top choice for president followed by Poe, whose ranking surged to number 2 in the latest Pulse Asia survey.
But even if she tops the surveys, Poe said it was not an assurance that she would win the presidency.
“Gaya nga sinasabi ko, papalit-palit (ang surveys) kahit mag-top pa ako bukas, hindi na nangangahulugan yun na makakasiguro ang kahit na sino kaya para sa akin hangga’t hindi ko nasasabi sa sarili ko na ako’y handa… at sabi nga ng Nanay ko, kung sa tingin ko yung magagawa ko ay makakabuti hindi lang para sarili ko kundi sa mga paninilbihan ko o sa mas nakakarami, hindi ko dapat isalang ang sarili ko kasi baka maging panggulo lang ako kung hindi naman talaga ako makakatulong,” she further said.
Nevertheless, Poe said she was overwhelmed by the expression of support from people who are pushing her to run for president. The latest of which came from former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, best friend of her late father, Fernando Poe Jr.
While thankful for Estrada’s support, the lady senator reiterated that she had no plans yet to run for president.
Asked again if the overwhelming support would be enough to encourage her to join the derby, Poe said: “Matagal pa nga e tapos ang dami ko pang kailangang gawin at patunayan so hindi.”