Poe: Commitment more important than endorsement

KORONADAL CITY—Sen. Grace Poe said here on Saturday that commitment to the people and what she could do was more important than President Benigno Aquino III’s endorsement for next year’s presidential race.

“It’s an honor to get his endorsement but when it comes to decision, it’s a personal journey. Even if there’s endorsement, the important thing is the commitment and what you can do,” Poe told reporters here.

She said principle was what her father, the late Fernando Poe Jr., had always espoused.

“When I ran in 2013, FPJ served as my inspiration. He said before that intelligence is important but having a heart is more important. We saw how FPJ lived his life, he was honest and had a heart for the needy,” she said.

She said the pieces of advice that FPJ had given her were what guided her in her job as a public servant.

“I won’t abandon whatever my parents had taught me, that’s why in performing my job, I always attempt to do good, to be honest and to care for the people, whom I’m serving,” Poe said.

Poe, however, remained uncategorical about her plans for 2016.

On Wednesday last week, Poe and Sen. Chiz Escudero were invited to a meeting with the President in Malacañang. Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the presumptive standard-bearer of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), and Budget Secretary Butch Abad, an LP official, also attended the meeting that lasted about six hours.

Apparently, the meeting failed to lead to a consensus on a possible teamup for 2016 that Mr. Aquino would endorse.

“It’s a privilege to talk to the President and I respect him,” she said.

Poe said during the meeting, the President never asked her what her plan was.

“What he repeatedly said was he was looking forward to a strengthened alliance and that it was also important to know what the people want,” she said.

But Poe said at no point during the meeting that Mr. Aquino asked her to give way in favor of an LP candidate.

“There had been no attempts. You know, even if the President is a friend, it’s difficult to know what’s on his mind. But in our discussion, we never talked about it and he never hinted that I should not run,” she added.

Poe said another meeting had been set for her, Escudero and the President next week.

But she said the date had not been fixed yet.

“What’s the point of the meeting? First, he is our President. We need to hear his views because these are important. Second, he is our friend. He is fun to talk with and we do not always talk about politics. On that two things alone, it’s not a waste of time if we talk to him,” Poe added.