Contrary to the opposition’s allegations, Senator Grace Poe said she is qualified to run for a higher post in 2016.
“Hindi po totoo na ako’y hindi kwalipikado. Kwalipikado po ako pero hindi pa po ako kandidato…” Poe told reporters on Wednesday. She said she was still thinking about her plans in 2016.
Poe was reacting to Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco’s statement that she was not qualified to run for a higher position next year because she does not meet the 10-year residency requirement.
Tiangco said that based on the certificate of candidacy (COC) that Poe filed in October 2012, she was a resident of the Philippines for six years and six months by Election Day of May 13, 2013.
But Poe said the COC stated “residence in the Philippines before May 2013,” and did not say “by May 13, or on May 2013.”
“Bakit ko napili ang six months and six years? Simple lang po. Physical presence in the Philippines. I was here 2005 pa lang, yung mga anak ko naka enroll na sa paaralan, ready po ang transcript dyan, ready din po ang titulo ng aking kinuhang lugar para matirhan dito,” she said.
(Why did I put six months and six years? Simple. Physical presence in the Philippines — I was here as early as 2005. My children were enrolled in schools, their transcripts [of records) were ready. The title of the house that we got here was also ready)
“Pero nilagay ko po yun sapagkat po noong 2006 lang nabenta yung bahay namin sa Amerika. April 2006 which can be proven. So sabi ko at that time, naku baka naman yun ang ibig nilang sabihin.”
(But [I put six years and six months in the COC] becaus I just only sold our house in the US in April 2006 which can be proven. So I thought at that time that’s what they meant)
“Hindi ako abugado pero ako po’y tapat at truthful at kung bibilangin mo talaga yung oras na andito ako sa PIlipinas, lagpas pa nga po sa requirement kaya para sabihin po nila na kulang marami po kaming mapapatunay na sobra pa nga at marami pong magpapatunay po dyan,” she said.
(I am not a lawyer but I’m honest and truthful and if you will count the time that I’m here in the Philippines , that’s even more than the requirement so for them to say otherwise, then we have a lot of evidence to prove that )
Poe said she was telling the truth and she has nothing to hide.
“Hindi ko po kinakailangang magtago sa likod ng isang tagapagsalita,”she said, apparently referring to Tiangco, interim president of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). UNA’s standard-bearer in 2016 is Vice President Jejomar Binay.
(I need not hide behind a spokesman)
Told about Senator Nancy Binay’s statement that Tiangco’s statements against her were not sanctioned by UNA, Poe said: “Ganyang kalaking decision walang sanction?”
“Bakit kayo natatakot sa akin ? Kung sinasabi man nyong hindi kayo natatakot sa akin, hindi po ito ang kilos nang hindi nababantaan kahit papaano sinasabi nila hindi daw nila ito ginawa bilang paghihiganti pero parang ang timing naman nila kung kelan ako pumirma ng committee report na pinaninidigan ko po yung committee report,” she added.
(Why are you afraid of me? If you’re saying that you’re not afraid of me, that’s not the actuations of those who are not threatened. They say they are not doing this to get back at me but the timing came after I signed the committee report.)
Poe was referring to the report of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee that recommended the filing of plunder charges against the Vice President, son Makati Mayor Jun-Jun Binay, and other personalities involved in the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall 2 parking building.
Poe told INQUIRER.net she’s been based in the US for 12 years.
Based on earlier reports, Poe went back to the Philippines in 2004 when her father, National Artist for Film Fernando Poe Jr., died.
Poe went to the US in 1989 to pursue a political science degree at Boston College. She finished the course in 1991.
Prior to that, Poe went to the University of the Philippines in Manila for two years (1986-1988) taking up Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies. IDL/TVJ
READ: Grace Poe not eligible for presidency, says UNA