Grace confirms talk with PNoy

Senator Grace Poe Llamanzares confirmed that she met with President Aquino and discussed possible political alliances for the May 2016 elections.

Poe said the meeting took place before the President left for his state visit to Canada.

“The President and I met and he reiterated the importance of selecting a candidate who will continue the programs of reform and good governance,” Poe said in a statement.

She pointed out Aquino did not mention to her any specific position. “But there was no mention of what particular position,” she said.

Earlier, Poe said she is not keen on running for President in next year’s elections.

Aquino revealed on Friday in Canada that he had met with Poe but did not give details on the meeting. According to the President they talked about ideas on how to continue his administration’s policies.

He hinted he is open to the possibility of Poe running in tandem with Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II who is being groomed to be the Liberal Party’s (LP’s) standard bearer for the 2016 presidential elections.

It can be recalled that in 2013, Poe ran as a guest candidate in the administration party’s ticket and went on to get the biggest number of votes from the national electorate.

LP stalwarts fancy Poe LP stalwarts expressed belief that someone like Poe could give “life and grace” not only to the ruling party, but to the country.

Negros Occidental Rep. Albee Benitez, who heads the House Visayan bloc; Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo and Iloilo Rep. Jerry Trenas said it will be advantageous for the LP to have Poe in its slate for 2016 presidential polls.

“Senator Poe will surely give life to the continuity of President Aquino’s straight path. Whether she will run for president or vice president, definitely this will be a big boost to the administration party because of her unblemished public record. She is the version of Ms. Clean and would surely bring ‘grace’ to the country,” Benitez, chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development, said.

Quimbo maintained that the LP is open to adopting Poe, recognizing the chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Safety as strong presidential bet.

“We’ve always been consistent in saying that Sen. Grace is a possible presidential timber for the party. We’re open to that. Our first criterion is that the person must be able to continue the legacy of good governance of P-Noy. She fits the bill. We will follow who the President believes is that person,” he said.

Treñas agreed with his colleagues, saying that Poe “will definitely improve the administration chances in winning the two top positions in government thus ensuring twelve years of continuous accelerated economic growth.”

Roxas loyalist But, LP secretary general and Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento sang a different tune from that of his colleagues, insisting that DILG Sec. Roxas remains the standard bearer of the ruling party.

“The LP stands behind Secretary Roxas, we believe that Senator Poe if adopted by the Liberal Party is a woman of integrity will benefit from the experience and counsel of Secretary Roxas. Together, they are an effective team that will continue daang matuwid and provide another six years of clean, honest governance,” he said.

UNA reacts

For a stalwart of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) like Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting, President Aquino’s gesture only showed that his ruling party has no “winnable” standard bearer for 2016 elections.

“I think it only means that the LP does not have a winnable candidate within its ranks and only someone like Grace Poe has a chance of beating VP (Vice President Jejomar) Binay. It’s a free country. Senator Poe can run in any position she likes,” he said.

Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, interim president of UNA, just shrugged off Mr. Aquino’s initial talks with Poe.

“VP Binay is just concentrating on his job of taking care of the OFW’s and the housing sector. He is busy going around the country listening to the problems of the poor, to be able to formulate a program that will uplift the lives of the poor, thru free hospitalization and good quality education and job creation for the poor, who really have to feel the benefits of the economy. Economic growth is useless, unless the poorest of the poor benefit from it. The proper time to choose his VP running mate and finalizing the Senate slate will come. But us of now the priority is serving the poor who have to feel the services and the caring of the government,” he said. (With a report from Charissa M. Luci)