Poe nervous but hopeful on election day

Sen. Grace Poe INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Sen. Grace Poe: Nervous but hopeful. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Senator Grace Poe is “nervous” but is also very hopeful, her husband said on Monday.

Neil Llamanzares said the family prayed Sunday night ahead of the elections this Monday.

“She’s nervous but she’s also very hopeful, as is the rest of the family,” Llamanzares told reporters after casting his vote at Xavier School in Greenhills, San Juan.

While the campaign had been difficult for the family, especially for Poe, Llamanzares said his wife is determined to win the presidential race.

But if the people decide, otherwise, he said Poe would be supportive whoever gets elected in Malacanang.

“We’re continuing to pray. Marami tayong pinagdaanan at palagi nating iniisip ano ‘yung pinakamabuti para sa kinabukasan ng bansa. So medyo mabigat kay Grace pero, siyempre, gusto sana natin na siya na nga ang magiging bagong pangulo,” Llamanzares said.

“Pero kung hindi ‘yon mangyari, hindi ‘yon ang gusto ng bansa, okay lang. Grace has always said we should be supportive of whatever happens in the future, to whatever administration, because she has always been for unity,” he added.

Llamanzares and eldest son, Brian, cast their votes at Xavier School early in the morning while the senator is expected around 10 a.m at Sta. Lucia Elementary School in San Juan.

Llamanzares, who was a dual citizen, pointed out that he had been voting in the Philippines since the family moved back from the United States in 2005.

He recently renounced his US citizenship amid questions raised by Poe’s rivals.

“Yes. I have been a voter. I’m a natural-born Filipino. It just so happens that I was born in the US also, so I guess I’m a natural-born dual citizen of both the US and the Philippines, but no longer. Like many Filipinos, I actually have to line up for a visa to travel to the US now,” Llamanzares added.

Poe also renounced her US citizenship after she was appointed chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in 2010.

In 2013, she ran and topped the senatorial race.

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