Ahead of SET decision, Grace Poe breaks into tears

Sen. Poe talks about her late father during consultation with Calamba residents. MAILA AGER/INQUIRER.net

Senator Grace Poe broke into tears on Tuesday when she talked about the disqualification case against her before residents of Calamba, Laguna.

READ: Poe admits jitters ahead of SET decision

The Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) is set to decide this Tuesday afternoon on the case filed by defeated senatorial bet Rizalino David who is seeking to unseat her in the Senate over her citizenship.

“Sa ngayon po ang araw na ito ay isang mahalagang araw. Ngayon po sila magdedecision sa SET kung ako ba ay idi-disqualify nila bilang senador,” she said.

(This day is a significant one. The SET will decide today if I will be disqualified as a senator.)

“Ako po’y umaasa sa hustistya sapagkat ang kanila pong dahilan sa pagtanggal sa akin kung saka-sakali ay dahil daw ako’y isang nadampot na bata lamang,” said Poe.

(I am hoping for justice because in the case that they will disqualify me, it is because I am just a foundling.)

“Sabi nila nadampot ka e papano ka magiging Pilipino? Papaano naming malalaman kung Pilipino nga ang mga magulang mo nadampot ka lang?” she added.

(They say that I am just a foundling. ‘How can you be a Filipino? How will we know’ that my parents are Filipinos if I am just a foundling?)

Some residents from the crowd commented: “Takot lang sila at baka matalo!”

(They are just afraid that they will lose.)

READ: Sad, ‘nervous’ Poe hopes SET’s decision will be fair

Although it was true that she is a foundling, Poe reiterated that she still considered herself lucky  she ended up with her adoptive parents, the late Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) and veteran actress Susan Roces.

FPJ ran but lost in the 2004 presidential race. Now his daughter, the incumbent senator, is running for president in the 2016 elections.

Poe became emotional when she recalled her senatorial race in 2013.

“Noon pong ako’y lumabang senador…” said Poe but she took a long pause as she was trying to control herself from crying but failed.

(When I ran for senator…)

“Sabi nila walang panalo… Sapagkat nakalimutan ng tao si FPJ at ano ba ang nagawa nyan? Sino ba yan?” she continued.

(They say I will not win… Because the people have forgotten FPJ and what did he do anyway? Who is she?)

“Pero noong pong ako’y mahalal, inalagaan ko ang alaala ng aking Tatay. Kahit bago ako sa Senado, pinagbutihan ko ang trabaho….”

(However, when I was elected, I took care of my father’s legacy. Although I was new in the Senate, I did my best in my work.)

Poe then called on the people to pray for justice, saying that the cases being filed against her was just a test that every leader had to go through.

“Makakaasa po kayo na ang inyong boto… Dito na nga lang tayo pantay-pantay, may karapatan tayo isa-isa lang ang boto natin sa halalan mamimili pa sila kung sino ang gusto nilang alisin? Tama naman ba yun? Lilimitahan nila ang ating karapatan na mamili?” said Poe.

(You can be assured of your vote. It is here where we are all equal. We have the right to vote, we all have one vote each, [yet] they choose whom they want to remove? Is that right? They will limit our right to choose?)

“Kaya mga kababayan, hinihikayat ko kayo na huwag kayong susuko sa inyong mga pangarap at higit sa lahat ay ipanalangin nyo ang hustisya at ipinalangin ninyo na sa puntong ito ay magkaroon na tayo ng pagkakataon na iangat at ayusin ang Pilipinas,” Poe added.

(That is why, my countrymen, I am urging you not to give up on your dreams and above all pray for justice and pray that at this point, we will have the opportunity to improve and fix the Philippines.) RAM