Poe asks Cardinal Tagle for prayers for 2016 challenge

MANILA, Philippines — Prayers, courage, and wisdom.

These are what Sen. Grace Poe, who is mulling a possible run in 2016, sought when she met with Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle Monday night.

Tagle gathered Poe, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas for a prayer service, where he called on the potential contenders for the presidency to keep the campaign friendly and dignified.

During the meeting, Tagle gave the message that being a leader would be a form of service, said Poe.

“What our cardinal said— and I accept this and I am thankful— being a leader is service. And it should not be forgotten that in all things, the leader should be the first to feel what the people are going through,” she told reporters.

But politics were not on the menu during the “light” meeting, with discussions centering on prayers and reflection, she added.

Poe said she also sought prayers from the cardinal.

“I asked for his prayers for whatever decision we will be making. We ask for courage and wisdom,” she said.

Poe, a first-term senator, is considering running for higher office next year.

She has topped recent surveys on the voters’ preferred candidate for the presidency.

The Liberal Party had tried to convince her to be the running mate of Roxas, its standard bearer.

But last week, the Liberal Party vice chair, Senate President Franklin Drilon, said the party should stop such efforts, because he was convinced that Poe would run for president herself.

Not being a member of the LP, Poe said she could only respect Drilon’s view on the matter.

“Well, I respect that. After all, I’m not member of the Liberal Party. It’s their prerogative to decide on those matters,” she said.

Poe and Roxas crossed paths during the meeting, but the LP standard bearer did not mention anything about Drilon’s call.  SFM