LP stalwart pooh-poohs Grace Poe’s roots in Iloilo

Senate President Franklin Drilon (left) on Monday downplayed the supposed Iloilo roots of Senator Grace Poe, saying it would not translate to votes in the May polls. INQUIRER FILES

Senate President Franklin Drilon expressed doubts on Monday that Senator Grace Poe’s alleged roots in Iloilo would help her win the votes there in the May elections, saying the administration bets “will carry” the province.

Poe, who was found in a church in Iloilo when she was a baby, will be in the province on Tuesday along with running mate, Senator Francis Escudero, and their senatorial bets, for a proclamation rally and school visits.

READ: Grace Poe on sentimental journey to Iloilo

“Mar Roxas, Leni Robredo will carry Iloilo,” Drilon, vice chair of the Liberal Party (LP), said during the “Pandesal Media forum” in Quezon City when asked if Poe could get strong support from the province.

Roxas and Robredo are LP’s bets for president and vice president, respectively.

Asked if Poe’s supposed family roots in Iloilo would help her get votes in the province, Drilon said: “I don’t think so. I don’t think that that would have any impact on the votes on iloilo.”

“The administration has shown support for Western Visayas for the past five years and that is what will carry the Roxas-Robred tandem in Western Visayas,” the Senate leader said.

Drilon, who is seeking reelection in May, pointed out that Western Visayas is “very supportive” of Roxas despite the alleged “shortcomings” of the administration in some areas there.

“Western Visayas region is very supportive of Secretary Roxas. Whatever shortcoming we may have in other areas, I’m sure we will be looking at Region VI in order to recover his deficiencies,” the LP stalwart.