Sen. Grace Poe. MARK ALVIC ESPLANA/INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON
Senator Grace Poe admitted before businesspersons Tuesday that she has the least number of years in public service among the presidential candidates, but this does not mean she is the least capable.
In her speech before the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Poe said she may not have the most number of years but at least she has the least “baggage” of allegations against her over her short public service.
“Even if they say that my resume is quite lean compared to the others, in terms of my service in the public sector, my resume is lean enough that I don’t have the added baggage that is not necessary to be successful in government,” Poe told businesspersons.
Asked to expound on her statement, Poe in an interview after her speech said she may not have the most number of years in public service but at least her record is clean.
“Totoo na ako ang may pinakamaikling panahon sa gobyerno, pero sabi ko nga, ang mga excess baggage, mahirap eh,” Poe said.
“Mas mabuti yung lean, basta malaman, saka mayroong kalidad ng serbisyo,” she added.
Poe faces disqualification complaints before the Senate Electoral Tribunal and the Commission on Elections due to questions over her natural-born status.
Her detractors said she cannot run for the president and cannot remain as senator because she is not a natural-born citizen as required for in the Constitution, owing to the fact that she was left a foundling in Jaro, Iloilo.
Poe said it is time for the electoral scene to be participated in by those who may not have the better experience, but have a different perspective in resolving the country’s problems.
“I concede na compared to the others, ako talaga ang pinakamaikli na nandiyan. Pero sa tingin ko naman, baka naman kailangan mo rin ng point of view na kakaiba,” Poe said.
“Marami tayong problema na kinahaharap na matagal nang nandiyan. Marami na rin nasubok ang mga problema na yan. Napapanahon na din na isang maganda, tapat at maayos na pananaw ay magbigay naman ng solusyon sa ating mga kababayan,” Poe said.
Poe topped the senatorial race in the 2013 elections, having come from a short stint as chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.
While Poe faces the baggage of facing several disqualification complaints because of her foundling status, her other presidential rivals face different forms of baggage of their own.
Binay faces corruption allegations and is set to face graft charges for allegedly rigging the procurement for the design and construction of the Makati car park building.
Meanwhile, Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas faces the baggage of being touted as hiding under the shadow of President Benigno Aquino in his repetitive commitment to continue the straight reform agenda.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago also faces allegations that she may not live up to a six-year term should she win as president because of her stage four lung cancer. TVJ