Poe: Pinoys deserve better than iron-fist rule, stagnant gov’t

Senator Grace Poe. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe tells the public on Friday that if they’re happy with the present administration or prefer an iron-fist leadership, then they should not to vote for her.

While recognizing that the present administration might have made economic gains and strides, Poe noted that the people continue to be disillusioned as they have yet to feel it.

“But it will take at least another administration and perhaps another one for it to be able to trickle down but at that particular level of growth or higher,” she said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel’s (ANC) Headstart program.

“That’s why what I’m saying is, if you’re happy where you are right now okay, don’t vote for me. If you think that what they’ve done is enough and you’re happy that our country has already achieved what it needs to achieve, don’t vote for me. If you want to go back 30, 40 years from where we were, don’t vote for me.”

READ: Poe, Roxas win seen to continue reforms

“But if you feel that our country deserves better, if you feel that our country can be on equal footing with other more developed nations in Asia, then perhaps you might consider me. I think I have the best platform for this,” she said.

Poe said she does not only have the right economic environment for the country but she also has “the temperament, the energy, and maybe the moral ground to stand on to be able to rally the country.”

Under a Grace Poe presidency, she said, the people will not live in fear and they will not be afraid of the government.

READ: Poe: We need justice, not violence

Asked what she think would happen if survey frontrunner Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte becomes President, Poe said she would “still hope for the best, especially when it comes to the markets, and the country’s standing in the international community.”

“Somebody said you don’t want to burn the house down because you’re looking for a rat. One thing you don’t want is to spook the markets,” she said.

“But I think you need a President that has a clear vision, a President that will make friends with the international community without of course selling out the country but a President who understands that you really need accountability, you need to be answerable to the people and you can’t just decide on things unilaterally,” Poe added. IDL/rga