Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
Like any human being, presidential hopeful Senator Grace Poe was also affected and hurt by criticisms and various issues being hurled at her, her running mate, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Monday.
“Siyempre palaging naapektuhan, andun naman palagi yun. Tao lamang din, siyempre nasasaktan (Of course she gets affected; that’s always there. She’s only human, of course she gets hurt),” Escudero said when asked if the issues being raised against Poe has been affecting their tandem, especially the lady senator herself.
“Subalit sa dulo at sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, buong tapang pa ring haharapin ni Senator Grace ang mga bagay at isyung ‘yan at mga kasong ‘yan dahil nga sa paniniwala na siya ay nasa tama at nasa panig niya ang katotohanan at batas.”
(However, in the end, Senator Grace will bravely face these issues and cases because of her belief that she is in the right, and the truth and law is on her side.)
Escudero was referring to the disqualification cases filed against Poe that seek to stop her presidential bid in 2016 over her citizenship.
This pending issue on Poe’s citizenship allegedly prompted Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to join the presidential race in 2016.
Asked about Duterte’s statement that he would withdraw from the race if Poe can show her Filipino mother, Escudero said the lady senator would have done that a long time ago if she already knew the identities of her biological parents.
“Alam niyo, kung alam na po ni Senator Grace ‘yan, noon pa man kandidato man siya o hindi, siyempre hindi lang niya nilabas, e siyempre niyakap din niya at iniyakan din kung makikilala lamang niya. Bago pa man tumakbo si Senator Grace, sinisikap na nilang hanapin ang tunay niyang mga magulang,” he said.
(You know, if Senator Grace knew her biological parents, even before she was a candidate, she wouldn’t have only made them public, she would have also embraced them and cry if she got to know them. Before Senator Grace ran for office, she has been attempting to find her real parents.)
“Sino ba namang foundling, o napulot o nadampot na bata ang kilala niyo na hindi nanaising makilala ang kanyang mga magulang at tumingin sa kanyang mga mata. Lahat naman siguro gusto ‘yun. Pati si Senator Grace, gusto rin ‘yun. Wala siyang choice sa kasong ito,” Escudero added.
(Have you ever encountered a foundling or a child that was picked up from the streets that didn’t want to know their biological parents and to look into their eyes? All of them probably want that. Senator Grace also wants that. She has no choice in this case.)