I’m no Chiz clone – Grace
BAGUIO CITY – Presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe yesterday rejected insinuations she sounded like her running mate, independent vice- presidential candidate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, during the first televised presidential debates held in Cagayan de Oro City.
If at all, Poe said she sounded like her father, the late ac-
tor and former presidential candidate Fernando “FPJ” Poe Jr. whom she said trained and honed her skills in speaking in Filipino.
“Well, if you know what makes us alike in some ways, is that we both watch FPJ movies, we both love the Filipino language, and we both studied abroad for a long time,” Poe told reporters dur- ing press conference here at the Prince Plaza Hotel.
“But when I was growing up, it was my father who would correct me and teach me the proper way of speaking Tagalog and the manner by which I (should) deliver it,” she said.
Poe was reacting to Presidential Communications Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III’s opinion she impressively “channel her inner Escudero” during the debates.
Quezon twitted other candidates but heaped praises on Liberal Party standardbearer Manuel Roxas II’s performance during the debates.
Poe on possible cheating
Likewise, Poe also commented that the 39 percent of people in the Pulse Asia survey who believe there could be massive cheating in the upcoming May 2016 elections could be borne out of the fact that President Aquino himself openly endorsed the Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate.
“Maybe, that perception could have been eliminated had President Aquino chose not to endorse or did not endorse any candidate,” she said.
“Yet, I still believe that it is not in the President’s character to cheat in the elections just to help ensure his chosen candidate wins in the race,” she pointed out.
Poe, meanwhile, turned the tables on Quezon and questioned why some government officials are openly campaigning for their bets yet remain in the Cabinet.
“I’m actually surprised and wondering, and of course sad, that the spokespersons themselves are still in government. Shouldn’t they be resigning if they are actively campaigning for a candidate?” she pointed out.