Enrile calls on candidates to arm themselves with ‘intellectual discipline’
Senate Minority Leader Senator Juan Ponce Enrile acknowledged yesterday that Sen. Grace Poe Llamanzares is an “electable” candidate even though she perceivably lacks experience in public service.
But Enrile said Poe, as well as the other potential candidates in the coming May, 2016, elections, can arm themselves with “intellectual discipline.” Next year’s candidates must equip themselves with knowledge and understanding of today’s and future needs, he said.
In related reports on the political scene yesterday:
• Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza described Poe as “a breath of fresh air in the polluted world of presidential politics,” as she and Sen. Francis Escudero arranged an invitation for a conference between them and the National Unity Party (NUP), the third largest in the country. NUP Executive Director Reginald Velasco said the NUP is open to the possibility of throwing its support to any of three other presidential candidates, although it had earlier shown up in full force for a meeting with Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas of the Liberal Party.
• Sen. Fedinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he is now holding talks with various groups, including his own Nacionalista Party (NP), about running for higher office. There are five million votes from the Solid North that Senator Marcos can count on should he run for the presidency, Senator Enrile said yesterday.
• Liberal Party stalwarts are not giving up on Sen. Grace Poe amid the reported formation of a united PoeEscudero senatorial ticket for next year’s polls. Iloilo Rep. Jerry Trenas and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali said they are patiently waiting for Poe’s nod to join the administration banner.
Multiple discipline
Senator Enrile stressed the need for the presidential candidates to prepare themselves for problems that will require immediate resolution or decision. One needs multiple intellectual discipline, he said.
“You must be versed in economics, in politics, in security, strategy, currency, demography, climate change, environmental degradation – lahat iyan. They have an impact on the stability of any country in this planet. An event that happens in Europe or in Asia could engulf the world at any time and you must always have a strategy to meet these contingencies.”
Enrile was interviewed after he returned to work in the Senate after a year of being detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP). Enrile, who is facing plunder and graft charges over his alleged involvement in the 10-billion pork barrel fund scam, was allowed by the Supreme Court to post 1.45-million bail for his temporary liberty.
NUP to decide
The NUP’s Velasco said Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Jejomar Binay, will also be given the same opportunity to present their program of government if they win the presidency. “We will decide during our convention in September.”
Roxas’s invitation for meeting with the NUP was attended by a large group of NUP members but most remained tentative on whom they would ask the party to support in 2016.
Velasco admitted that Poe has a following of loyal supporters within the NUP which boasts of 30 district congressmen, 19 party-list congressmen, nine governors, and a number of city and municipal mayors.
Poe has also been getting strong backing from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) although like the NUP, the party has yet to make a declaration as to who it will support. The NPC is the second biggest political party in the country.
The higher road
Congressman Mendoza, who is eyeing the governorship in Batangas, cited Poe for “taking the higher road for talking about issues instead of criticizing other candidates.” He noted that Sen. Chiz Escudero has also focused on “programs, not personalities” when approaching important issues.
Mendoza added that the Bicolano senator’s objective “is always to find solutions. He understands that grandstanding is unproductive and doesn’t get anything done, which is why he is always focused on finding answers, not finding fault.”
Although the two senators have yet to formally declare their plans, Mendoza said that NPC members were all expecting Poe and Escudero to announce their candidacies soon.
“A picture is worth a thousand words. The photos in Cebu and their other trips tell us that when Senator Grace and Senator Chiz formally announce their plans to run for president and vice president, this will be welcomed by a lot of people,” he said.
Pangasinan visit
Speaking at the University of Luzon in Pangasinan, Senator Poe said she is hoping the youth would trust her. She recalled that she visited several state universities and colleges in 2013 and
“I always feel a certain warmth when I visit. I always feel very welcome. Actually in many places of the country, because they also remember FPJ (her father Fernando Poe Jr.). Although she said some people say that she is always in the shadow of FPJ, “for me it is an honor to have a role model like him. And I think that should learn from him.’’
The ruling Liberal Party (LP) of President Aquino is wooing Poe to be the running mate of Roxas.
Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, president of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) confirmed that the team of Poe and Escudero has started forming a united senatorial ticket for next year’s polls, tapping kep figures from major political parties in the country.
Sources said among those eyed for the team are Las Piñas City Rep. Mark Villar, Valenzuela City Rep. Win Gatchalian, Taguig Rep. Lino Cayetano, House Independent Bloc Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, reelectionist Senators Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Marcos, and Ralph Recto, Manila City Vice Mayor Franciso Domagoso or Isko Moreno, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva, former Sen. Panfilo Lacson, former Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, and people’s champion Manny Pacquiao.