Poe wishes ih for ‘unifying force’ in gov’t

The country’s next leader should be a “unifying force,” and will allow all political parties to serve and discuss their programs with the people, Grace Poe, independent presidential candidate, said to reporters yesterday, after gracing the 8th Go Negosyo Filipina Entrepreneurship Summit at the

World Trade Center in Pasay City.

She was referring to her experience in Roxas City Wednesday, when she was barred from holding a consultation forum for students from a school. Roxas City is the hometown and bailiwick of Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

Poe used the occasion to again remind the “Daang Matuwid” government to allow all presidential candidates to reach out to all students for them to make an informed choice.

“Sana huwag ganoon. Kung sino yung magiging susunod na administrasyon, maging unifying force, kahit nasa kabila ka, oposisyon ka, dapat mabigyan ng pagkakataon manilbihan kung walang kaso, matino at magaling (It should not be like that. Whoever becomes part of the administration should be a unifying force. Even if one is from the opposition, he or she should be given the chance to serve),” she told reporters.

Poe’s disappointment is based on the fact that since the national campaign started in Feb. 9, it has been a standard procedure for the Partido Galing at Puso to hold student consultations in various schools during their sorties.

“Ayoko nang pahabain ‘yan. Basta sana sa kahit na saang lugar sa Pilipinas at ng mga estudyante ay magkaroon ng pagkakataon na marinig ang mga kandidato, para makagawa sila ng, makabuo sila ng desisyon kung sino ang susuportahan nila. Kami naman sa Gobyernong may Puso, kahit na taga-Davao, Cagayan, Capiz at kung saan pa man, importante na wala kang pababayaang Pilipino kaya pumunta talaga kami doon sapagkat hindi naman porke’t mayroon silang kandidato ay hindi na namin dadalawin yun (In each part of the Philippines, students should be allowed to have a chance to hear each candidate so that they can make a decision on who to support. We in government have a heart, we go to all places even if the people there are known supporters of another candidate so we won’t miss any sector),” Poe said.

Nevertheless, she thanked people in Roxas City for “warmly welcoming” their campaign team.

The Liberal Party, in reaction to reports about Poe’s experience in Roxas City Wednesday, said the incident only showed that the people in Roxas City prefer another candidate. They said it was a “clear indication of their preference as voters.”

“Instead of again blaming someone else when things don’t go her way, she should simply put more planning into her events,” Akbayan party-list Rep. Ibarra Gutierrez, the LP spokesperson, said.