Presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe. FILE PHOTO
Days after conceding defeat to presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe wrote a thank you letter to the media, who followed her throughout the 90-day campaign period.
“Thank you, friends. Thank you for sticking it out with Gobyernong May Puso (Government with a Heart) throughout the 90-day campaign,” Poe said in an email letter to the media on Thursday.
“The journey has not been easy, but it was well worth it,” she said.
Poe said there were “uncertainties and hurdles” during the campaign, citing as example the citizenship issue hurled at her.
“The citizenship question felt like a sword hanging over my head. One decision by the courts could boot me out of the presidential race,” she said.
A foundling, Poe was slapped with left and right disqualification cases over her citizenship and residency.
However, on March 8, the Supreme Court ruled with finality that the senator was qualified to run for president during the last May 9 national elections.
“We were overjoyed by the Supreme Court ruling recognizing the rights of foundlings like me. It is not just for my sake, but is now immortalized as part of the laws of the land that can benefit my fellow foundlings,” said Poe.
“The challenges came as we moved along, but we plowed on.”
Poe expressed gratitude to the media for following her campaign even if it meant waking up early in the morning and going home late.
“You campaigned as much as I did. You woke up early and slept late, you walked under the scorching heat of the sun and soaked under the rain. You rushed to beat the deadline to tell your stories, so that the people will be a better judge of who to vote as their next leaders,” she said.
“You met and talked with the same people I communed with. You saw and heard their concerns, their miseries, their hopes, their aspirations. And I hope that these somehow helped make sense why I decided to take on the challenge. Thank you. I am proud of you. I am grateful for your service to our people.”
“It has been an honor and a privilege to work side-by-side with you. Thank you very much,” the senator added.
Poe will continue to serve as senator until 2019. RAM
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