‘I thought I was out of the race’ – Poe

SHE was in front the Quiapo church on her way to an International Women’s Day celebration in Manila when Senator Grace Poe heard the news that she can run for president in the May 9 elections.

Voting 9-6, the Supreme Court ruled that Poe is qualified to seek the presidency.

Overwhelmed by the news, Poe broke into tears, a source said.

She got off her vehicle and went inside the church to say a prayer.

From the church, Poe went directly to the event and gave a short speech.

After the event, Poe was if she indeed she cried after hearing the news. She simply narrated what happened before she received the good news.

“Kasi ang nangyari dito papunta ako dito. Pagpunta ko dito, tamang-tama narinig ko sa radyo ang balita noong ako’y paakyat ng underpass papuntang Quiapo church,” she told reporters.

“Sa lahat ng lugar na malalaman ko pa, kahit tanungin nyo yung mga kasama ko sa sasakyan, tumigil yung balita pagdating ko sa harap mismo ng simbahan kung saan ako nagpupunta,” she said.

While she expects an appeal on the SC decision, Poe said she already considered it a “victory” for her to have reached this point.

“Alam mo para sa akin, isa na itong victory na nakarating tayo dito sa puntong ito,” she said.

At one point, Poe said she thought that she was already out of the presidential race.

“Nagulat ako. Akala ko out (na ako),” she said.

“I care about it, I care about running, I care about the privilege to serve but I’m not obsessed about the position so I was ready to accept whatever the decision.”

“It was a pleasant surprise,” the senator added.

Poe acknowledged that her victory in the SC was not an assurance of another victory in the May presidential race.

“Walang kasiguruhan sa kampanya na ito pero sa tingin ko mas maglalakas ng loob ang iba na pumili at sumoporta ngayon na meron ng decision ang Korte Suprema,” she said.

Poe now hopes for unity after she hurdled the first obstacle in her quest for the presidency.