‘Fighter’ Poe has own version of ‘matuwid na daan,’ says father-in-law

LUMBAN, Laguna—It would be a different version of “matuwid na daan” (straight path) if Senator Grace Poe, a “fighter,” gets elected president in May national elections, her father-in-law said on Friday.

Teodoro “Teddy” Llamanzares spoke about his daughter-in-law when he and wife Carol joined the presidential bet at a mini rally held here at Barangay (village) Segunda Parang.

“Grace, we’ve been with her for 23 years, being my daughter in law, she’s talagang a fighter kaya gustong-gusto nya matuwid na daan pero (really a fighter so she wants a straight path but) it will be a different version,” Llamanzares said in a chance interview before the rally. He was with his wife during the interview.

He said he and his wife prayed hard when the Supreme Court was deciding on the disqualification cases filed against Poe over her citizenship and residency.

The high court later ruled that Poe is a natural-born Filipino and has met the 10-year residency requirement in the country to qualify her to run for president.

READ: SC rules in favor of Poe in DQ case

Asked if they are all-out for Poe, Llamanzares quickly said: “Aba, of course.”

He said they could not just go out and campaign for her because of their age. However, he said his family helped Poe’s adoptive father, the late action king Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ), when the latter ran for president in 2004. FPJ lost, however, to then President and now detained Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Asked again if he thinks his son and Poe’s husband Neil is ready to become the next First Gentleman, Llamanzarez said: “He promised that he will not be the past gentleman. But I can vouch for it.”

READ: Grace Poe: Hubby could become ‘most handsome’ First Gentleman

Llamanzarez was apparently referring to Arroyo’s husband Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo. RAM

RELATED VIDEO