Estrada on backing Poe: ‘Why not?…I owe her father a debt of gratitude’
Estrada. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Monday confirmed reports that he will support Senator Grace Poe if she plans to run for higher office.
“Why not? She is the daughter of my best friend,” Estrada said.
Estrada said the senator’s father, action King Fernando Poe Jr. was with him when he ran for mayor of San Juan up to when he ran for President.
In fact, he said Poe stopped filming to join his campaign “even in Mindanao and even if he is afraid of flying.”
“I owe her father a debt of gratitude that I can never repay,” Estrada said.
Article continues after this advertisementThe senator, however remains coy of her 2016 plans.
Article continues after this advertisementShe said she is not yet ready to face Binay in the 2016 presidential election.
“Malakas naman sya (Binay) e kahit sino namang katapat nya sya pa rin ang nakakaangat, wala naman sya talagang dapat ikabahala. Ngayon kung merong iba, sila siguro ang dapat na maghanda,” she told Senate reporters Monday.
(Binay is a strong candidate…he would still prevail over other challengers. If there is someone who wants to fight Binay, he better be ready. )
But asked if she was ready to fight the Vice President, “Hindi nga ako handa eh. Kaya nga hindi rin ako nagsasabi na sigurado ako dahil pati ako, kailangan ko pa talagang isipin.”
(I told you I’m not yet ready. That is why I don’t want to make a commitment as I have to think this over.)
Though his ranking fell in recent surveys, Binay remained the voters’ top choice for president followed by Poe, whose ranking surged to number 2 in the latest Pulse Asia survey.
But even if she tops the surveys, Poe said it was no guarantee she would clinch the presidency.
Poe said survey results are tentative and no one can tell for sure he or she would eventually emerge as the winner, adding that she cannot run until she can say she is ready.
Nevertheless, Poe said she was overwhelmed by the expression of support from people who are pushing her to run for president. The latest of which came from Joseph Estrada.
While thankful for Estrada’s support, the lady senator reiterated that she had no plans yet to run for president.
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