Sheryl Cruz on stand vs Grace Poe candidacy: Nobody is behind me

Actress Sheryl Cruz on Thursday said nobody was behind her when she voiced out her opposition to the 2016 presidential bid of her cousin, Sen. Grace Poe.

Saying that she has good intentions both for the country and for her family, Cruz maintained that her comments against Poe’s decision to seek the presidency in next year’s polls were part of her personal opinion.

“May sarili po tayong opinyon sa ating kanya-kanyang pamilya. Hindi naman po pwede na lahat na lang ng mga desisyon sang-ayon tayo, lalo na kung ikaw may sarili kang konsyensya,” Cruz said over radio DZMM.

(We all have our own opinion about our families. It’s not always that we agree with every decision, especially if one has his own conscience.)

“Nobody is behind me. After saying my opinion, the reaction I got was so outrageous,” she added.

READ: Sheryl Cruz firm on stand vs Grace Poe candidacy | Sheryl Cruz’s tell-all on her cousin Grace Poe aborted | Grace Poe: I thank Sheryl for her opinion, concern

Noting that she supported Poe’s senatorial run in 2013, Cruz said her love and concern for family should not be put to question.

“Hindi na kailangang kuwestyunin ang pagmamahal ko sa aking pamilya dahil pinatunayan ko na ‘yan, noong senatorial race niya halos lumibot ako ng buong Pilipinas to represent her. So huwag niyo pong sabihin na hindi ko pinapahalagahan ang aking pinsan,” Cruz said.

(My love for my family shouldn’t be question because I’ve already proved it; when Grace Poe ran for senator, I went to almost every part of the Philippines to represent her. So don’t tell me that I don’t value my cousin.)

“Wala kaming problema (There’s no problem between us). I don’t know why people are speculating that we have problems,” she added.

Asked about those who imply that she has ulterior motives, Cruz said she has no political plans and reiterated her previous statement that she did not intend to shame or vilify anyone.

“Wala akong intensyong mamahiya ng tao lalo na kapamilya ko pa. Hindi ako ganong pinalaki ng aking magulang o ng auntie ko, uncle ko, hindi ho ako ganyan. So kung sino man ang mga nag-conjure niyan, konsensya na lang nila ang dapat nilang kalabanin, hindi ako dahil malinis ang hangad ko,” Cruz said.

(I don’t have any intention to shame anyone, especially people from my family. I wasn’t raised like that, I’m not like that. So to whoever conjured that idea, face your conscience because my intentions are pure.)

“I just wanted everybody, especially my family, that I am saying this because I have good intentions. Kapag meron kayong pamilya and you’re proud to be a family member, syempre ang iisipin niyo ‘yung nakakabuti para sa lahat. And my cousin Grace is no exception dahil mahal ko siya,” she added.

(When you have a family you’re proud to be a part of, of course you’ll think of their well-being. And my cousin Grace is no exception because I love her.)

The actress also denied allegations that she organized a tell-all interview about Poe which was supposed to coincide with the press conference of the Iglesia Ni Cristo biopic “Felix Manalo” on Tuesday.

“Syempre nagulat ako doon because unang una sa lahat ang pakay ko sa Manila Hotel ay para sa aking trabaho kung saan kabilang ako sa mga artista,” Cruz said, adding that she also did not ask entertainment reporters to interview her in a coffee shop.

(Of course I was surprised because my purpose for being at Manila Hotel was for my work where I’m part of the cast.)

Citing a text message from organizers, the actress also confirmed reports that she was disinvited from the press conference on the day of the event itself as she “might say something political.”

“’Please do not attend, ang dami nang press dito (there’s a lot of press here).’ Ako ang intindi ko doon, it’s press conference, natural maraming press (I understood that as something natural, since it’s a press conference). But I did not know why they did not want me to attend until the time I got there. Nalaman ko na lang na I was suddenly disinvited, I was not allowed to enter the premises of the event because I might say something that was political. Puro haka-haka nila to. Hindi ko ito ginawa (This was all hearsay; I had nothing to do with it),” she said. Yuji Vincent Gonzales/JE