FORMER Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto “Jing” Paras had a different version of the supposed phone conversation with Liberal Party official Edgar Erice over a plot to unseat Senator Grace Poe from the Senate and derail her political plans for 2016.
In a phone interview Thursday, Paras denied that it was his initiative to call Erice to invite the latter to join a move to bring down Poe and derail her possible presidential run by using the citizenship issue against her.
“It was not me who called up. It was he (Erice) who was the one who called me up,” Paras said.
Caloocan Rep. Erice held a press conference Thursday to deny any participation in a move to file disqualification cases against Poe.
Erice said Paras called him up three days before a disqualification case was filed by Atty. Rizalito David at the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET).
But Paras said he could not believe Erice would say such a thing. He turned the tables on Erice, saying it was the Caloocan lawmaker who called up and pitched in the idea of campaigning for Poe’s ouster.
A text message has circulated and claimed that Erice allegedly paid David to file disqualification cases against Poe before the Commission on Elections and the SET.
David had claimed Poe cannot retain her public office because she is not a natural born citizen, being a foundling left in a church in Jaro, Iloilo before she was adopted by action star Fernando Poe Jr. and actress Susan Roces.
“He was asking if I was interested to file a case on Grace Poe for disqualification. Sabi ko it’s premature, hindi pa naman siya nagde-declare. But at the proper time, kung walang magfa-file, I will volunteer,” Paras said in his version of the incident.
Paras said Erice is allegedly looking for another person to blame in the aftermath of Poe’s statement that she suspects the Liberal Party (LP) was behind the demolition job.
LP standard-bearer Interior Secretary Mar Roxas has been courting Poe to be his running mate in 2016. Roxas even made an appeal on national television, and invited Poe at her residence on Sunday. But Poe seemed to have dumped Roxas, telling him he has other options for vice president.
“He has a motive in concocting a story. Probably he wants to find a scapegoat. If you remember, Grace Poe accused LP of being behind the cases against her. Erice has been saying Poe should not be the candidate for president because she is inexperienced. That created a doubt on Grace Poe. Ano ba naman ito, sinusuyo siya pero binabanatan patalikod, and they are still desperate to get her,” Paras said.
“They really need Grace Poe to win this elections. Ngayon nagalit sa kanila si Grace Poe, ayaw makipag-usap. Kaya they want to divert the galit of Grace Poe to somebody else. Nagkataon nag-usap kami, ginawan niya ako ng storya. Bigla na lang gagamitin ako to save their skin,” he added.
For his part, Erice said any reports that linked LP to the concerted move to disqualify Poe were intended to derail the talks between Poe and Roxas. It was Erice who first floated the idea of a Mar-Poe in 2016.
Erice also said Paras is from the camp of Roxas’ opponent in 2016, Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Paras did not deny that he is a supporter of Binay, who faces investigation by the Ombudsman over the alleged overpriced Makati Parking Building II and Makati Science High School building.
Paras denied that Binay had a hand in his plans to disqualify Poe.
“I am just an ordinary citizen who believed Binay should become President. Whether I am for Binay or not, will it change the picture of the natural-born disqualification of Grace Poe?” Paras said.
“Senator Poe is eyeing the presidency. You think just by mere sentiments or paawa na bakit siya tinatawag na napulot lang, it
will change (anything)?” he added.
Poe has been the target of political attacks since she topped the presidential and vice presidential voters preference polls, surpassing even veteran politicians Binay and Roxas. Marc Jayson Cayabyab