Poe: I’m not hurt by Aquino’s tirades

ANGELES, Pampanga – Presidential aspirant Grace Poe said she does not harbor any ill-feeling toward President Benigno Aquino III despite the latter’s recent tirades against her.

“Hayaan mo na sya basta ako naman ay inihahayag ko lang ang nararapat, kung ano ang sa aking palagay ay ang dapat gawin sa ating bansa. Kung yan ang kanyang pananaw,” Poe said on Thursday when asked about her relationship with Aquino after the latter’s reported criticisms on what seemed to be her choice to have an arms race with China over the South China Sea maritime dispute.

“Kaya nga siguro yun ang kanyang piniling kandidato. Meron kaming hindi mga pagkakapareho ng solution para sa problema ng kababayan at kahirapan,” Poe added.

(Let him be, as for me, I only express what is right, what I believe must be done for our country.

Perhaps that’s why they chose him as their candidate. We have differences in our solutions for the problems of our countrymen and of poverty.)

She was apparently referring to Aquino’s presidential bet, former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

Aquino appointed Poe as chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in 2010. She ran and topped the 2013 senatorial race also under Aquino’s ticket.

Asked if she was hurt by Aquino’s attacks on her, Poe answered no.

“Hindi ako nasasaktan,” she said.

“Yes, I continue to respect him but para sa akin ang problema ng kahirapan ng ating mga kababayan ang ating tinututukan…”she said.

(No, I am not hurt.

Yes, I continue to respect him, but for me, the problem of poverty among our countrymen is what we focus on.)

Pressed further if she bore no ill feelings even if the President seemed to belittle her, Poe said in jest: “Maliit kasi talaga ako (I truly am small).”

READ: Aquino rebukes Poe on maritime dispute strategy

Regarding her stand on the South China Sea, Poe explained that the Philippines does not have to engage in an arms race but it should not also give up its fight easily.

“Alam mo, hindi naman nakikipagsabayan pero mayroon tayong deterrent rin. Hindi naman pwede rin na basta-basta na lang ay hindi na natin kaya,” she said.

“Sabi nga di ba pader man ang ating kabangga,’meron ngang wrecking ball na sinasabi pero ang sinasabi natin hindi naman basta-basta, hindi naman tayo nakikipag-away maski kanino…”she added.

(You know, it’s not that we should keep up with them, because we also have deterrents. But we can’t just say that we can’t do [anything].

Like they say, we’re hitting a wall, there’s a so-called wrecking ball [for that], but it’s not that easy, we are not fighting with anyone.) CDG