Senator Grace Poe (left) and Representative Lito Atienza. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
An “on-the-job training (OJT).”
That was how former Manila mayor and now Buhay party-list Representative Jose “Lito” Atienza described how Senator Grace Poe’s presidency would look like should she be elected in 2016.
“’Pag si Senator Grace Poe ang maging pangulo ay magiging on-the-job training naman ang mangyari sa atin (If Senator Grace Poe becomes president, it will be like an on-the-job training.),” Atienza said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990AM on Saturday.
The lawmaker issued the statement when asked about Poe’s significant surge in the in the recent Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations (SWS) surveys, which saw her zoom past longtime poll leader Vice President Jejomar Binay to become the most preferred possible presidential candidate.
READ: Grace Poe now leads presidential survey; Binay falls to 2nd | SWS: Grace Poe tops Binay as most preferred Aquino successor
He said the public should choose someone who has extensive experience in government.
“Pumili tayo ng malalim na malalim ang karanasan, (We should pick someone who has really vast experience in the government),” he said.
Poe, a neophyte senator, topped the senatorial race in 2013, garnering 20.3 million votes.
But Atienza said voters’ should not be swayed by a candidate’s popularity alone.
“Ang kailanagan natin ay ‘yung may karanasan (We need someone who has experience),” he said, adding that he is “nervous” if a neophyte in politics would lead the country.
“Kinakabahan ako kung maging President si Grace Poe kasi wala siyang experience (I am already nervous of the prospect of Grace Poe becoming president because she doesn’t have the experience),” he added.
If elected as President Benigno Aquino III’s successor, he said Poe would be like a trainee in government who would not be able to address key issues facing the Philippines today.
“Kapag siya ay naging pangulo saan na naman tayo tatakbo (If she becomes president, whom do we run to)? Another r six years of what?” Atienza said.
He said Poe should first finish her term as a senator and then seek reelection to gain experience.
He said that after that, the neophyte senator could then run for President.
Media reports said Atienza would run as senator in the 2016 elections under Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
The Vice President has earlier taken a dig at Poe’s perceived inexperience, saying “risky to entrust the next government to those without experience and competence.”
While Binay has long declared his presidential ambition, Poe has not declared her intention to run for higher office in 2016. IDL
READ: ‘Experienced’ Binay takes a dig at ‘inexperienced’ Poe
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