Grace Poe lands in Cagayan de Oro for presidential debate

Presidential candidate and Senator Grace Poe greets guests during a function in Pasay City. RICHARD A. REYES / INQUIRER PHOTO

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines — Senator Grace Poe arrived here on Sunday morning for the first presidential debate to be held at the Capitol University later in the afternoon.

Poe took the commercial flight from Manila to Laguindingan Airport where she arrived past 9:00 a.m.

No family member will accompany her in the debate slated from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., members of her staff said.

READ: If she isn’t Filipino, how did she get here?

The senator would be joined here instead by members of her policy team, and some friends.

Aside from Poe, the four other presidential bets — Vice President Jejomar Binay, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte,and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago –are also expected to attend the debate organized by the Commission on Elections, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and GMA7.

READ: GMA Network to mount 360-degree livestreaming of debate

Poe, days before the debate, admitted having jitters, saying she hopes to answer the questions truthfully.

“Siyempre lahat naman tayong nakikilahok siguro hindi naman normal na hindi ka kabahan maski na papano. Sapagkat pwede ngang handa, pwedeng sa araw, bago ka pumunta sa araw na ‘yun ay handing-handa ka pero hindi mo naman talaga alam kung ano ang ang mangyayari sa araw na ‘yun mismo,” she said in an interview last Friday.

“Basta trabaho, dasal at higit sa lahat ay tignan kung ano talaga ang pwede nating gawin at makatotohanang sagot sa mga katanungan,” Poe added.

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