Photo from the office of Senator Grace Poe
Despite her consistently topping the senatorial surveys, Senator Grace Poe said she is still unsure if she would seek reelection in 2019.
鈥淚鈥檓 running in 2019, if I run in 2019. I鈥檓 not even sure at this point,鈥� Poe said in an interview over ABS-CBN 黑料社 Channel聽on Thursday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a personal reason for me, I have to talk to my husband about this,鈥� she also said.
But when pressed further, the senator pointed to her husband, Neil Llamanzares, who she said was 鈥渢raumatized鈥� by what happened during the 2016 elections.
鈥淚 think, more than us, I think he鈥檚 traumatized by what happened during the last elections,鈥� Poe said.
In latest Pulse Asia survey, the senator maintained her Number 1 ranking with 67.4 percent of respondents saying they would vote for her.
搁贰础顿:听Pulse Asia: Poe still frontrunner in pre-May 2019 polls
But Poe said the numbers in the surveys could still change and could not be used a 鈥渟ole basis鈥� for running in public office.
Told that it would be a 鈥渨alk in the park鈥� for her if she decides to seek reelection given her wide lead with other senator contenders, Poe said: 鈥淚t just takes one particular issue to change all so I鈥檓 not banking on that.鈥�
鈥淲hat I鈥檓 more gratified with is the approval ratings and the trust ratings that (are) not available to the public. But when I see it, that鈥檚 the one that is most heart-warming, how much I鈥檓 trusted and that鈥檚 what I want to keep,鈥� she added.
And should she decide to join the senatorial race next year, Poe indicated that she would continue to be an independent candidate.
鈥淔irst of all, I鈥檓 an independent politician, I don鈥檛 really have a party,鈥� she said when asked if she would run under the administration鈥檚 slate.
The senator pointed out that when she first ran for the Senate in 2013, she was just adopted by the Liberal Party-led ticket.
鈥淜ung may mag iimbita sa鈥檡o kukunin ka eh di maraming salamat. Wala namang nag-iimbenta sa akin ngayon eh,鈥� she said.
鈥淗indi naman sa pagmamayabang, important ang partido lalo na kung administration pero kung ayaw ka naman nila鈥︹�� Poe added.
Asked again when she would make the final decision about her senatorial bid, Poe said: 鈥淚 have to talk to my God and I have to talk to my mom and definitely my husband.鈥�
Her mention of God was an apparent reference to President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 tirades against the Catholic Church, specially his 鈥渟tupid God鈥� remark. /kga