Sen Grace Poe looks down at a prepared speech during a press conference to announce that she was conceding the presidential race to Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. JAY MORALES/POE-ESCUDERO MEDIA BUREAU
Senator Grace Poe said she did not regret her decision not to withdraw from the presidential race in favor of administration candidate, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, saying there was no guarantee that her votes would go to him.
Three days before the May 9 elections, Roxas called on Poe to meet with him to thwart a “looming dictatorship.” While she said she was open to meeting the administration aspirant, the senator made it clear that she would not withdraw from the race.
READ: Roxas calls on Poe: Let’s speak for our unity, country, future
“Walang garantiya na kahit na umatras ako ay mapupunta sa kanya ang boto,” Poe said in a press conference Monday midnight when she accepted defeat to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
“At isa pa, parang winala naman natin ang karapatan ng ating mga kababayan na mamili. Tapos, kung bibilangin mo rin naman ‘yung boto ngayon, malinaw na malinaw ang laki ng agwat.”
“Kahit na pinagsama mo pa kami, na hindi naman talaga malinaw na talagang mapapagsama mo ‘yung boto na ‘yon. Kaya ako wala akong pagsisisi sa desisyon na ‘yan dahil, unang-una, hindi dapat iilan lamang ang nagdedesisyon para sa ating mga kababayan,” Poe added.
Looking back, however, the senator said, she should have focused more on explaining her platforms to the people, rather than spent time answering all allegations hurled at her .
She particularly cited the disqualification cases filed against her because of citizenship and residency issues.
“Bagamat ang mga tanong ninyo ay tungkol sa aking kaso sa Korte Suprema, dapat siguro ay hindi ko na rin masyadong sinagot ‘yon at ibinigay ko lang ang aking mga plataporma, kasi naging sentro ‘yon ng pag-uusap at hindi ‘yung mismong nais kong plano sa bayan.”
Poe admitted that the black propaganda against her had affected her candidacy as well as her family.
That was why the senator hopes that the next elections would be issue-based and focus on the credibility of candidates and the problems of the country.
“Ang mahirap lang ‘yung mga black ops, mga imbentong kuwento, ‘yon ang mahirap. Pero kung meron namang basehan sa tunay na buhay ng isang kandidato na dapat sagutin ay siguro naman ‘yon ay isang obligasyon din ng mga kandidato,” she said.
Poe, an independent candidate, also recognized that their lack of resources and machinery also made it difficult for their campaign.
“Pero nais kong sabihin nga sa inyo, sa tingin ko ‘yung ating kampo ay naging talagang maayos sa ating pagtakbo. Palagi na lang nating sinasabi kulang tayo sa mga bumabanat pero nanatili tayong tapat sa ating mga kababayan, na ipinaglaban lang natin talaga kung ano ang ating paniniwalang makakatulong sa ating kapwa—‘yung kakulangan sa trabaho, ‘yung mga batang nagugutom, ‘yung patuloy nating problema sa mga may sakit.”
She said she still hopes to continue her dreams for the Filipinos and the country even if she did not make it to Malacanang.
Asked by a reporter if she would still consider running for President again in 2022, Poe said: “Sabi mo nga, mahirap nga ‘yung pinagdaanan e, so parang ngayon sa tingin ko hindi na yata.”/rga