Senator Grace Poe. PHOTO BY JAY MORALES
Senator Grace Poe said she was happy that the Supreme Court recognized that she is a Filipino citizen.
Poe again talked about the SC decision during a sortie in Lopez, Quezon on Wednesday.
She said she became emotional when the SC ruled on Tuesday that she is qualified to run for president
“Sa ating mga kababayan, kahapon narinig ninyo ‘yung desisyon ng Korte Suprema. Naging madamdamin sa akin ‘yon, hindi dahil gusto kong magkaroon ng kapangyarihan o pwesto bilang pangulo, kung hindi dahil nais kong ipagpatuloy ang mga programa para sa ating mga kababayan na talagang makakatulong lalo na ang mahihirap at mga naaapi,” she said when she spoke at a mini rally held at the covered court of Lopez Municipal Hall.
“Noong nagdesisyon ang Korte Suprema emosyonal ako pero ako’y masaya rin, pero halo ang aking damdamin. Masaya ako dahil kinilala nila ang katotohanan na ako ay Pilipino…”
(To our fellowmen, yesterday, you heard the decision of the Supreme Court. That was an emotional moment for me, not because I want to have power and the presidential seat, but because I want to continue the programs for our countrymen that have really helped, especially the poor and the downtrodden.
When the Supreme Court decided [on my case], I was emotional, but also happy, my sentiments were mixed. I am happy because they acknowledged the truth that I am a Filipino.)
READ: Poe in tears after SC decision—source
Because she has no record of corruption, Poe said her detractors made up stories against her such as the issue of citizenship.
Her citizenship was one of the subjects of disqualification cases filed against her.
But the SC, voting 9-6, ruled against the cases by allowing Poe to push through with her presidential bid in May.
“Sabi nila, ‘malay ba namin kung totoo kang Pilipino. Sino ang mga magulang mo? Baka naman foreigner at hindi Pilipino.’ So gumagawa sila ng dahilan at ‘yan din ang ginawa nila ay FPJ, kung naalala ninyo,” she said, referring to her adoptive father, the late action king Fernando Poe Jr.
“Sabi nila, si FPJ daw ay hindi rin Pilipino. Kung wala kang isyu ng pagnanakaw o pangungurakot, gagawa sila ng isyu maski na ano at kasama na dito ang citizenship.”
(They said, ‘who knows if you really are a Filipino. Who are your parents? What if they are foreigners and not Filipinos.’ So they just made up reasons and that’s what they did to FPJ, if you can recall.
They said, FPj was not a Filipino. If you are not linked to issues of stealing or corruption, they would make up any issue and that includes citizenship.)
Like her, FPJ’s citizenship was also questioned when he ran and lost to then President and now detained Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 2004 elections.
As in the past, Poe ended her speech with a popular line from one of the movies of her father.
“Sa ating mga kababayan, ang aking laban ay laban niyo rin. Ang inyong pinagdaanan, ang inyong pinaghuhugutan ay akin rin pinaghuhugutan dahil ang ibang mga kandidato siguro napakadali para sa kanila; may pera sila, may makinarya sila. Kami naman simple lamang,” she said.
“Pero gaya nga ng pelikula ni FPJ, sinabi niya ‘Huwag mong sabihin na marami kang tauhan, at huwag mo ring sabihin na marami kang salapi. Pare-pareho lang tayo. Isang bala ka lang.'”
(To my fellowmen, my fight is also your fight. Your struggles, your burdens are also my burdens because for other candidates, it must be very easy; they have the money, the machinery. We are simple.
But like what FPJ said in one of his movies, ‘Don’t’ say that you have men, and don’t say that you have the money. We are all the same. You [your end is] are but a single bullet.) CDG
READ: All go for Poe campaign after SC win
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