Sen. Grace Poe. FILE PHOTO
Even highly experienced leaders falter too, so said Senator Grace Poe, responding to a colleague鈥檚 statement that it would be better off for her to run first as vice president in 2016.
Poe said she understands Senator Sergio Osme帽a III鈥檚 sentiment when the latter said in an interview Wednesday that she would make a better president if she would serve six years as Vice President first.
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鈥淗owever, we have seen that even highly experienced leaders falter if they do not have the best intentions of the people at heart,鈥� the lady senator said in a text message, without naming names.
Osme帽a was not the first politician who question Poe鈥檚 lack of experience or at least advised her to gain more experience if she intends to run for president in the future.
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If Poe runs and wins for president in 2016, she would not be the first leader, who would become president without having been elected first as vice president. The senator though has yet to declare whether or not she would run for a higher post next year.
On the contrary, former presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Joseph Estrada became vice president first before they assumed office in Malaca帽ang. Both have聽聽 been charged with plunder and detained after they stepped down from office.
Vice President Jejomar Binay was longtime mayor of Makati City before he assumed his post in 2010, Like Estrada and Arroyo, Binay is also facing plunder聽聽 and graft charges at the Office of the Ombudsman over corruption allegations when he was still the city mayor.
Despite Osme帽a鈥檚 remarks, Poe still thanked him 鈥渇or his continued trust in my character as a leader.鈥�
鈥淓ven as he mentions the short time I have so far holding public office,鈥� Poe added.
Osme帽a helped Poe when she first ran and won in the 2013 senatorial race. IDL