Grace Poe: Service over friendship

Senators Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

It’s service over friendship.

Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday said the good of the people should prevail over friendship in making political decisions for the 2016 national elections.

“You have to do what you have to do for the country and not necessarily what is expected from you (by friends),” Poe said on Tuesday after her poem reading at the radio show of lawyer Romulo Macalintal.

“You have to make decisions that are difficult, so kahit na minsan kaibigan mo, kapag meron kailangang gawin, kailangan mong gawin dahil obligasyon mo,” she added.

Asked whether she would be willing to slide down as vice president even if it means fighting against Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero who is reportedly eyeing the post, Poe said that Escudero has promised that he would support her whatever position she would decide to run.

“Alam mo yung maganda kasi sinabi ni Senator Chiz nung umpisa pa lang, sabi niya kung anuman ang desisyon ko, kung ako man ay tatakbong vice president o ano pa man, hindi iyon ang itatakbo niya,” she said.

Asked whether it’s service over friendship, Poe said, “Yes.”

The senator said she has yet to make a decision amid supports from various political parties.

The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) said the party would support a Poe-Escudero tandem in 2016 once the two declare their political plans.

But Poe said she doesn’t have any “formal talks” with NPC.

“Sa ngayon po kasi tayo ay nasa punto kung saan tayo ay nagdadasal at nag-iisip ng mabuti,” she said.

The senator maintained that whatever her decisions will be, her decisions would be based on what the people wants.

“Ang dapat lang namang konsiderahin dito ay kung ano sa tingin ko ang maibibigay ko sa ating mga kababayan,” she said.

The senator has topped recent presidential and vice presidential surveys, though she has not announced her political plans.

The ruling Liberal Party has said they are eyeing Poe to be interior secretary Mar Roxas’ running-mate after he was endorsed by President Benigno Aquino III as the administration’s standard-bearer.

Caloocan Rep. and Liberal Party stalwart Edgar Erice has said Poe should “make the sacrifice” and run as Roxas’ vice president.

Responding to Erice’s remarks, Poe admited that everybody should make a sacrifice, citing that running for higher office is also a sacrifice.

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