Senator Nancy Binay denied on Wednesday that the residency issue raised against Senator Grace Poe had the blessing of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
In fact, Binay said she was “surprised” that Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco, interim president of UNA, called a press conference to question Poe’s qualification to run for either President or Vice President in 2016. Poe has not declared yet whether she would run for a higher post next year.
“May consent (There’s consent)? Actually, nagulat na nga lang din ako na naglabas siya ng ganun e—ng ganung statement…(Actually, I was surprised he came out with something like that—that kind of statement…)” she told reporters, when asked if Tiangco’s move had UNA’s consent.
“I guess, like everybody else, I was surprised. Nag-press con pala siya kahapon,” Binay said.
Binay also denied that Tiangco raised the issue because UNA or its standard-bearer, Vice President Jejomar Binay, was just afraid of Poe.
READ: ‘Binay did not want to expose residency issue vs ‘friend’ Grace Poe’
Based on recent surveys, Poe is getting near Vice President Binay in voters’ choice for President.
Senator Binay pointed out despite the attacks against her father, the Vice President remained the voters’ top choice for President.
“So bakit kami matatakot? (Why are we going to be afraid?) ‘Di ba at this point, we are prepared kung sino man ang magiging katunggali niya sa 2016 (who’s going to be his rival in 2016?). Ang pinaghahandaan namin at talagang numero uno kasi sa amin ‘yun nga ‘yung (What we’re preparing for and number one [priority for us] is competence and experience kung sino talaga ‘yung (who’s going to be) best qualified to be the President for 2016,” she said.
Senator Binay also denied making reference to Poe or anyone when she issued a challenge Tuesday for some senators who signed a draft report against her father to admit their personal motives.
READ: Nancy dares colleagues get real, admit personal motives
“Wala nga e, yun na nga nagugulat ako bakit all of a sudden parang galit na galit sila, wala naman akong binanggit na pangalan dun di ba? (There’s none. I was surprised why all of a sudden they’re so furious when I did not specifically mention any name),” she said.
She nevertheless reiterated her call on her colleagues to be “frank and honest” about their political plans in 2016.
“Let’s be frank and honest. When the Vice President was asked are you running for President, anong sagot niya, ‘Oo, tatakbo akong Presidente.’ Ibig sabihin nun ganun ka-determined siya na tulungan ang ating mga kababayan (The Vice President answered yes when he was asked if he’s running for President. That means he is that determined to help our countrymen),” said Senator Binay.
“Hindi ko kasi maintindihan yung iba, di ba, parang di daw tatakbo, pero kita mo naman dun sa kilos at gawa, parang tatakbo, di ba (Others I can’t seem to understand. They said they’re not running but if you follow their movements [among political circles] they’re like running, right)? If you really want to help, why can’t you say na gusto kong tumakbo kasi gusto kong makatulong (I wasn’t to run because I want to help). What is stopping them from running?”
Asked again if she was referring to Poe, Senator Binay said no.
“I’m not naming names. Who? Yung mga pumupwesto na e, di ba? (Those who are positioning themselves already?) Parang, siguro, maganda ipakita ninyo talaga kung ano ang intensyon ninyo (Perhaps it’s better if they reveal their intention now), kasi this is just not about just winning e, this is about what you can do for the people.” TVJ
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