(UPDATE) Senator Grace Poe attacked the administration party anew on Saturday night, this time for allegedly trying to stop her presidential bid and now asking her to withdraw from the race.
In a speech at her team’s final sortie at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila, Poe talked about a candidate’s offer to unite against survey frontrunner Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
She did not name names but she was apparently referring to administration bet, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, who made the offer to her through the media.
READ: Roxas to Poe: Let’s thwart ‘looming dictatorship’
“Naniniwala ako sa unity at ako’y bukas sa pag usap kung ito ay sinsero pero kung ang pag uusapan natin ay para ako sumuko, kung pag-uusapan natin ay para isuko ko ang mga pangarap ninyo at aking paninidigan ay huwag na lang tayong mag usap,” she said in her impromptu speech.
“Sa dinami-dami ba naman ng sinabi nyo sa akin, sa lahat ng problemang nadinig kong pinagdadaanan nyo, sa lahat ng mali sa sistema na tinatamasa natin ngayon, ngayon pa ba ako papayag na umatras para ipagpatuloy ang dati ng mali. Hindi!”
Poe said she was open to unity if they would only discuss what would be good for the people.
But no one, she said, should take away the right of the people to choose the leader that they want. “Naniniwala ako na ang bawat isa sa atin ay dapat may boses, at dapat may karapatan na mamili kung sino ang nararapat at pagkatapos ‘nun ay igalang, hindi pwedeng minamanipula ng iilang tao lamang ang mga nararapat tumakbo,” said Poe.
She then reminded that it was the same people who wanted to stop her presidential run.
“Kung naaalala ninyo, sila rin naman ang nagsampa ng kaso laban sa akin. Sila rin naman ang nagpa-disqualify sa akin sa Korte Suprema. Noong hindi gumana yun at ako’y tumakbo, ngayon nakikita nila may banta sa kabila, may banta raw sa ating demokrasya kaya kelangan ako’y umatras,” she said.
“Mga kababayan, matagal ko ng sinasabi sa kanila na may banta sa ating demokrasya dahil hindi nila tayo pinakikinggan…” she added.
Poe said her decision to run for president was probably one of the most difficult things that she and her family had been through but said she had already prepared herself for it.
She said she never gave up her fight despite criticisms and false accusations hurled at her and her family.
“Bakit ako nagdesisyong tumakbo bilang pangulo? Binabalikan ko ‘yon. Kasi mga kababayan, ‘nung ako ay nagdesisyon, napakalimitado ng ating opsyon,” she said.
“Pipili lang ba tayo—pasensya na pero kailangan ihayag—pipili lang ba tayo ng isang corrupt? Pipili lang ba tayo ng isang palpak at mabagal na walang pakiramdam? O pipili ba tayo ng isang pumapatay na walang hustisya?”
“Mga kababayan, hindi ako perpekto; walang taong perpekto sa mundo. Pero ako ay may takot sa Diyos at ako ay may takot sa inyo, na alam ko ‘pag hindi ko ginawa ang aking trabaho nang tama, mananagot ako sa Diyos at mananagot ako sa inyo at mananagot ako sa nanay ko,” she added.
The miting de avance led by Poe and running mate, Senator Francis Chiz Escudero, started at 5 p.m and lasted for more than four hours.
Ten of their 12 senatorial bets attended the event. Absent were reelectionist Senator Ralph Recto and former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Celebrities supporting the candidates of Poe’s Partido Galing at Puso also joined the miting de avance, including superstar Nora Aunor, singer-composer Ogie Alcasid, Carmina Villaroel, Poe’s sister Lovi Poe, Heart Evangelista, wife of Poe’s running mate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, singer Angeline Quinto, former child star Niño Muhlach, Epy Quizon, and Ruby Rodriguez.
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