He said, she said: Poe denies asking Duterte to be his VP

Sen. Grace Poe. Screengrab from INQUIRER.net video

Senator Grace Poe vehemently denied on Monday that she had offered herself or had sent a feeler to be the running mate of Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

“Hindi po totoo yun, at hindi nangyari yun,” Poe told reporters, when sought for comment on Duterte’s claim.

The senator though admitted that she met with Duterte early this year at her house in the Corinthian Gardens in Quezon City.

According to her, Duterte went to the house of one of the children of former Senator Alberto Romulo.

Poe said Romulo’s child, who happened to be her friend since high school, then brought the mayor to her house where they talked about the past campaigns. She said the mayor helped her when she ran as senator in 2013.

“Kung ako ang nangangailangan, bakit ko s’ya papapuntahin sa bahay ko?” Poe said.

She added, “Hindi pa nga ako nagpupunta sa Davao mula noong mga panahon na nagdedesisyon sya bilang paggalang sa kanya. Ayokong sabihing magpresidente ka o mag vice president ka. Sariling prerogatiba yan,” she said.

“Hindi nangyari yun. Hindi namin pinag usapan at ako’y nagulat sa kanyang mga nasabi. Baka na-misinterpet,” Poe said.

“Hindi ako mayabang na sasabihin ko na ganito at kailangan, kung pwede ay ganito ako s’yo. Hindi ako mamilit ng tao, lalong lalo na kung sa aking palagay ay yung tao ay mayroon din namang katapatan at prerogative na piliin kung anong position ang gusto nya,” the senator added.

Poe said she did not also authorize anybody to talk to Duterte in her behalf.

The senator also denied Duterte’s claim that she already had an ambition when they met at that time.

“Hindi totoo yun. Noong nag-usap kami pati nga sya tinatanong ko, pareho kaming hindi pa nakakapag -decision noong panahong yun,” said Poe. CB