Filipinos fed up with ‘straight path’ policy—Poe

Presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe. FILE PHOTO

CAVITE, Philippines—Presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe hit the administration anew on Tuesday, saying that people are already fed up and “disillusioned” with its “daang matuwid” (straight path) policy.

“Ang mga tao ay sawang-sawa na, ang mga tao ay disillusioned dahil palaging idinidiin ‘daang matuwid, daang matuwid’ samantalang nakikita naman natin ang serbisyo ay palpak sa maraming ahensya ng gobyerno,” Poe said in an interview after holding a motorcade in this vote-rich province for more than six hours.

(The Filipino people are fed up, they are disillusioned with the “straight path” policy while we see that the services in many government agencies are inefficient.)

“Matagal ko nang pinupuna rin ‘yan. Nakikita natin na hindi nagiging prayoridad ang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan. Kaya para sa ating mga kababayan, iniisip nila: ‘bakit niyo sinasabi na napakabuti ninyo kung kinakalimutan niyo naman kami?”

(I have been criticizing this. We can see that the necessities of our countrymen are not prioritized. That’s why, for our our countrymen, they think, “why are you claiming that you are great when you are neglecting us?”)

“Hindi ko naman sinasabing nakadirekta sa isang tao, kundi nakadirekta sa pamamalakad na parang, yun bang parang wala nang mabait kundi ‘yung iilan,” she said.

(I am not referring directly to a single person but to the governance that it seems like there are only a few good people.)

Poe made the remark when sought for comment on presidential frontrunner Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s reported statement that many people have embraced him because they hate the government’s purported inactions.

At a campaign rally in Nueva Ecija on Monday, the senator also warned voters against electing a government that will promote violence, saying the poor will suffer from it.

READ: Poe: We need justice, not violence

While she also dreams of quick solutions to long-time problems, Poe said she does not believe that killing would bring the peace and order people want.

“Merong isa kasing kandidato na ang sinasabi tatapusin niya ng tatlo hanggang anim na buwan ang droga. Kahit naman ako, pangarap ko rin ‘yon. Walang masama doon kung talagang magagawa. Kaya lamang ito: Ang pamamaraan ay mali,” she said.

(There is a candidate who says he would end illegal drugs in three to six months. I also have the same dream. There is nothing wrong with that if it could really be done. However, the way of doing that is wrong.)

Poe was apparently referring to Duterte, who earlier promised to solve criminality in his first six months in office should he get elected President.

The senator said it was not right to give any group blanket power to just kill or kidnap suspected criminals without going through due process. Under this culture of impunity, she said, the poor are in a disadvantaged position.

“Ang problema ang palaging napapagkamalan ay mahihirap. Pansinin ninyo, meron bang pinatay na mayaman doon sa lugar nila na nasuspetsahan ng droga, smuggling, o anupaman? Kaya kahit gusto natin ng mabilis na solusyon, gagawin ko pa ring mabilis ang solusyon pero naaayon sa proseso,” she said.

(The problem is the poor are always blamed.  If you would notice, has there been a rich person killed  in their place for suspected engagement in drugs, smuggling or similar activities? That’s why although we want quick solutions, I would make quick solutions according to due process.)

If she wins in the May 9 elections, Poe said she would push for the creation of a drug court to try only drug-related cases. This, she said, will declog the country’s criminal courts, which are saddled with thousands of unresolved cases.

She said she would also strengthen the Public Attorney’s Office so that the poor can have access to free and competent legal services.

“Bibigyan ko ang mga mahihirap ng magagaling na abogado. Magtatalaga ako ng magaling na pulis sa bawat rehiyon. At ‘pag hindi bumaba ang datos ng krimen at droga, hindi ako maghihintay ng dalawang araw, ako mismo tatanggalin ko ‘yung provincial police para mapalitan ng gumagawa ng trabaho,” she said.

(I will provide competent lawyers to the poor. I will assign efficient police to each region. And if crime and drug rates don’t go down, I won’t wait for two days, I will fire the provincial police so he could be replaced immediately.)

Poe said the appointment of local police chiefs must not be politicized to ensure that the Philippine National Police (PNP) force across the country will be impartial.

“Hindi pwedeng political ang appointment ng pulis. Kailangan ang pulis ay nagtatrabaho para sa inyo dahil naniniwala ako na ang tao ay hindi dapat matakot sa gobyerno. Ang gobyerno ang dapat matakot sa inyo ‘pag hindi namin ginagawa ang aming trabaho,” she further said. RAM/rga

READ: Poe: Gov’t must be accountable, not bully its citizens

(The appointment of police chiefs should not be politicized. The police should be working for the people because I believe that the citizens should not be afraid of the government. The government should be afraid of the people if we don’t do our job.)