Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
A Liberal Party (LP) solon slammed reports which shed doubt on the issue of the citizenship of Sen. Grace Poe saying that it is just a smear campaign against the administration party’s possible 2016 presidential bet.
Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone said on Tuesday that media reports which divulged Poe’s alleged US citizenship is a non-issue compared to allegations of corruption faced by other possible presidential hopefuls.
“By bringing up the issue of citizenship against Poe, her detractors hope that it would create doubts in the minds of the electorate. But I think this is a non-issue compared to the issue of corruption,” Evardone said.
READ: Grace Poe threat to LP, UNA presidential bets? Solons weigh in
On Monday, Poe said that she has denounced her US citizenship before she assumed the post of Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chair in 2010.
On the other hand, Evardone also hit detractors of Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II who said that he would be sliding to the vice presidential post.
The lawmaker said that Roxas is not a “non-winner” and is an “incorruptible leader.”
“As to Roxas sliding to vice president, his opponents want to portray him as a weak presidential candidate. His detractors want to convince the voters to shun a ‘non-winner’ Again, I think this can easily be demolished by Roxas’ track record as an incorruptible leader,” Evardone said.
The Inquirer earlier reported that Liberal Party leaders are considering a “Grace-Mar” or “Grace-Chiz Escudero” tandem as its standard bearers in the 2016 polls.
READ: Administration allies batting for Poe-Roxas or Poe-Escudero
When asked by reporters on Monday, Poe said that she is “comfortable” of running with Escudero if she would seek a higher post in the next elections.
READ: Poe ‘comfortable’ with Escudero as her VP
However, the neophyte senator has remained mum on her 2016 plans. IDL