Poe ups antagonism toward Roxas over OJT remark

Presidential aspirant and Senator Grace Poe led her team dubbed as “Partido Galing at Puso” in campaigning in Baguio City on Tuesday, February 23. She was joined by running mate, Senator Francis Escudero and some of their senatorial bets. Photo courtesy of Senator Grace Poe’s Office

BAGUIO CITY– Presidential aspirant and Senator Grace Poe took another swipe on Tuesday at her rival, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, who earlier  told her that the presidency is not like undergoing an on-the-job training (OJT).

“Sabi nga nila OJT raw ako, sabi nga nila papayagan mo ba na ang magmamaneho ng kotse mo ay isang baguhan lamang?” Poe said in her speech during the political rally held at the Melvin Jones Grandstand, Burnham Park here.

“Ito naman ang sagot ko sa kanila. Marami nga sa mga Filipino ang walang kotse. At ito din ang sagot ko sa kanila, mas pipiliin ko na ang isang bagong nagmamaneho na magaling at marunong naman kesa  matagal nang nagmamaneho pero matagal nang naka-park lamang ang sasakyan,” she said, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Poe did not name names but it was Roxas, during the first presidential debate in Cagayan de Oro last Sunday, who made a similar remark like her.

“Kanino niyo ipagkakatiwala ang kaligtasan ng mga anak niyo? Sa isang taong may kaso ng pagnanakaw? Sa isang mainitin ang ulo na maaaring maaksidente? Sa isang ngayon pa lang natututong magmaneho?” Roxas asked in his opening statement before the debate.

“O ipagkakaloob natin sa matagal na niyong kilala at matagal nang naninilbihan at ni minsan hindi kayo pinahamak o pinagsamantalahan at may magandang rekomendasyon pa sa dati nyang pinagtrabahuan?” he added.

Poe used their sortie here to defend herself from  rivals who continued to question her capability to lead the country given her short stint in public service.

She was appointed chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in 2010 until she ran and won a Senate seat in 2013.

The senator is presently serving her first three years in the Senate.

“Sabi din nila bago ka pa lang wala kang nalalamang gawin, wala kang karanasan. Sagot ko naman sa kanila tama kayo, wala akong karanasan sa pagnanakaw at pangunurakot!” Poe stressed.

“Mga kababayan, maniwala kayo sa amin, kung ang isang pangulo ay magtatalaga ng mga matitinong tao sa gobyerno at ikukulong ang mga hindi gumagawa ng tama tayo ay hindi aabot sa puntong ito.”

“Kinakailangan na lang ay mabilis kumilos, mapagkakatiwalaan, tapat at may tunay na malasakit at tayo ay aangat. Maniwala kayo sa akin,” the senator added.