Chance encounters among politicians are inevitable.
Thus, Sen. Grace Poe was not a bit offended when she learned that her running mate Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero had shared a table with United Nationalist Alliance standard-bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay in Davao City on Sunday.
“You know, I was also surprised when I saw that picture,” Poe told reporters yesterday in an interview at the sidelines of a presidential forum organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).
“But for me, it is not surprising to see your political rivals or those from other parties in the events you will attend. You have to consider respect for one another in such instances,” said Poe.
She said she did not think bad about the meeting, considering that the encounter was openly seen in public.
“I don’t think they were plotting anything sinister, because if they were, they wouldn’t be out in the open. That was an open meeting,” said Poe in Filipino.
Binay and Escudero, once allies whose ties were splintered in the 2013 presidential race, were seen together on Sunday at a restaurant in Davao City, where both were invited by their common friend, former Davao del Norte Rep. Tonyboy Floirendo.
Both running as independents, Poe and Escudero was the first tandem completed for the 2016 elections.