Grace Poe/FACEBOOK PHOTO
Presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe admitted on Thursday that her chance of getting a favorable decision from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) was slim.
“Alam kong hindi magiging madali ang lakbay na ito, handa naman ako,” Poe said in a press conference in Iloilo when sought for comment on the impending resolution of the Comelec’s First Division on three disqualification cases against her.
(I know that this journey won’t be easy, anyway, I am ready.)
“Sinabi ko para sa aking mga nakikita, mukhang magiging malabo ang decision din ng Comelec na papanig sa amin bagamat hintayin na lang natin kugn ano man ito. Pero kung ano mang magiging decision nila, nais ko munang basahin kung talagang kinonsidera ang aming mga isinumiteng dokumento,” she added.
(What I can say based on what I see, it seems unlikely that the Comelec would decide in our favor, although we will wait for it whatever the decision is. But if this would be their decision, I would like to review first whether they really considered the documents we have submitted.)
READ: Comelec has authority when it disqualified Poe, says veteran lawyer
The Comelec’s Second Division had already granted a separate case filed by lawyer Estrella Elamparo, which also seeks to stop her presidential bid. Poe’s lawyers appealed the decision at the Comelec en banc.
Poe reiterated that she has a strong legal basis to prove that she is qualified to run for president amid questions raised over her residency in the Philippines and her being a natural-born Filipino.
She, however, admitted that her legal battle would be easier if she could find her biological parents. Abandoned in Iloilo when she was a baby, Poe was adopted by the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. and veteran actress Susan Roces.
The senator said she hopes to find a “bridge” to her possible relatives in Guimaras.
“Sana magkaroon na rin ako ng tulay dun sa mga siansabing kamag-anak ko dito sa Guimaras sapagkat mahaba-haba na din ang panahon na hinihintay ng Iloilo papuntang Guimaras, at mahaba-haba na rin ang panahon na hinihintay ko na magkaroon ako ng tulay sa mga kadugong kamag-anak,” she said.
(I wish I could have a bridge to my supposed relatives here in Guimaras because Iloilo also waited a long time to reach Guimaras, and I have also waited long to have a bridge to my relatives.)
Asked if she has plans to meet again with her relatives in Iloilo, the senator said: Secondary lang kasi talaga yun, para sa amin naniniwala kami sa kinatatayunan naming legal na basehan na ngayon pa lamang (That is only secondary, we believe in what legal bases we stand by), we believe in our legal arguments.”
“It would be nice and it might expedite the case, if we can prove that I actually have blood relatives here in Iloilo,” she further said.
READ: Grace Poe residency is ‘simple arithmetic’
Poe nevertheless expressed readiness to accept whatever the court decides on her case.
“Pero muli, dito sa aking pinagdadaanan, hindi na po ito tungkol sa akin lamang. Sa lahat ng pinagdadaanan ko, ok lang dahil ang aking layunin ay kung ano ang maiiambag ko para mapabuti ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan. Halimbawa, trabaho para sa ating mga kababayan na mas mataas ang sweldo, pagkakaroon ng mapayapang komunidad, panagutin ang mga tiwali sa gobyerno. Yan naman po yung mga ilan sa pakay natin na gusto nating isulong kung mabigyan ng pagkakataon,” she said.
(But, again, in what I am going through, it is not only about me. In all my struggles, it is okay because my end-goal is that which I am able to contribute to the welfare of our countrymen. For example, jobs for our people and high wages, peaceful communities, and holding accountable the corrupt in the government. Those are among what we want to pursue if given the chance.)
“ Kung hindi ok lang naman, mas magiging mapayapa ang buhay kong personal, “ she said, “Para sa akin ang mas malungkot lang ay ang pagkakataong makapanilbihan sa mas malaking paraan pero sa aking pesonal na sarili kong iniisip ko lamang, mas madali kung wala ang hamon na ito.”
(If not [given the chance], it is ok, my personal life would be peaceful. For me, what’s worse is [not] having the chance to serve in a grand manner but for me, it would be easier if I didn’t have to face this challenge.) CDG
READ: Escudero: Comelec’s disqualification of Poe ‘unfortunate, wrong’
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