Poe ‘presidential’; Santiago should suspend Malacañang bid–analyst

A political analyst on Monday weighed in on the first of the three presidential debates conducted in Cagayan de Oro City, where the five presidential candidates face off and answer questions about their vulnerabilities.

Political analyst Ramon Casiple said that among the five candidates—Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe, Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago—it was Poe who turned out to be “presidential.”

Casiple said that Poe, the presidential aspirant who is being hit by her rivals for her supposed lack of experience, was the most prepared—even bringing with her statistical data to back her policy proposals.

READ: Poe to Roxas: Experience is not everything

He also lauded Poe for maintaining grace under pressure.

“Ang revelation ng gabing ‘yun ay si Grace Poe. Siya yung neopythe eh… Everybody ang bira sa kanya hindi niya kaya ang pagiging presidente, walang karanasan. Pero it turned out na siya ang pinaka-preparado: may statistics siya, may mga proposals, at yung asta niya, I would consider that presidential—kalmado, stick to the issues, walang masyadong personalan,” Casiple said.

(The revelation of that night was Grace Poe. She was the neophyte but it turned out that she was the most prepared. She has statistical data, proposals and her demeanor, I would consider that as presidential—she was calm, only stuck to the issues and did not engage in mudslinging.)

The political analyst said that Roxas and Binay were both defensive on the controversies hurled at them, Duterte lacked concrete solutions to issues, while Santiago’s health remained an issue.

Casiple said that Santiago should suspend her third campaign for a Malacañang seat.

“Ako, ipapayo ko na doon, huwag na ituloy. Halata na yung physical limitations. Hindi na siya yung Miriam dati eh… Gustuhin ko man yung argumento niya, yung reality of health niya, I think, should not be a factor sana kaso naging malaking factor (sa campaign niya). Nakatayo pa lang, halata mo na,” he said.

(My advice is that she doesn’t go through with it. Her physical limitations are obvious. She’s not the same Miriam from before… Even though I like her arguments, the reality of her health, I think, should not be a factor, but it’s a big factor to her campaign. Just as she was standing, you can already see for yourself.)

During Sunday’s debate, the feisty senator said that despite her health issues, she has the right to run for president and that illnesses fluctuate.

READ: Santiago fends off criticisms about health

“I waited to die, but my guardian angel did not let me die,” Santiago said on her absences while battling stage 4 lung cancer.

Casiple also aired his suggestions for the next debates—give longer airtime for candidates to better explain their stance on issues and lessen the commercial breaks.

Sunday’s debate, the first one conducted in 24 years and the first one held in Mindanao, was sponsored by the Philippine Daily Inquirer and TV network GMA 7. JE