INQUIRER.net poll: Poe should not run sans Aquino’s nod

MAJORITY of Filipinos thought that Senator Grace Poe should not run for president in the 2016 elections without the endorsement of President Benigno III.

An online poll conducted by INQUIRER.net showed that a dominant 56.1 percent, equivalent to 16,040 out of 28, 590 votes, said Poe should not pursue a presidential bid if she would not be anointed by Aquino as his successor.

This was higher than the 43.9 percent or 12,550 of the total votes from readers who said that Poe should still run for president even without Aquino’s blessing.

Aquino previously said he would announce his chosen standard-bearer of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) after his last State of the Nation Address on Monday.

Poe has met with Aquino thrice, the latest of which was on July 20, less than a week after the Palace dinner with presumptive LP standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Sen. Francis Escudero, which lasted for five hours.

READ: Aquino, Grace Poe meet again

Reacting to statements from LP members who said that the party would not adopt an “outsider” and a neophyte as a presidential candidate next year, the Poe previously said she would listen to the views of Aquino and not his allies.

READ: Grace Poe says she’ll listen to Aquino view, not LP’s

Poe, who topped recent presidential polls, has yet to announce whether she would seek higher office in 2016.