Sen. Grace Poe. throws a giveaway to her supporters in Tarlac City.聽
TARLAC CITY, Philippines鈥擯residential aspirant Senator Grace Poe said she would be sad but remain thankful to the influential religious sect, Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), if she would not get its endorsement in the May 9 national elections.
Poe made this statement when asked during an interview here on Monday how she would react to reports that the INC has already endorsed the leading presidential candidate in surveys, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
鈥淪iyempre, malungkot dahil kailangan natin ng tulong ng ano mang grupo聽pero igagalang natin 鈥榶on kasi hindi naman tayong pwedeng manumbat o magdesisyon ukol diyan. Lahat naman kaming mga kandidato ay sumusubok lamang kung sakali,鈥� she said.
(Of course, I would be sad because I would need the help of any group but I would respect its decision because I couldn鈥檛 preach and decide on that matter. All of us candidates are just trying our luck.)
The INC, however, immediately released a statement, denying that it has already endorsed Duterte.
搁贰础顿:听Iglesia ni Cristo denies endorsement, vows to charge forger
Unlike other candidates, Poe also noted that she has no 鈥渂acker,鈥� an apparent reference to President Benigno Aquino III, who met with INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo this Monday morning and made 鈥渦sual appeals and political appeals.鈥�
Aquino is campaigning for administration bet, former Interior Secretary Manuel 鈥淢ar鈥� Roxas II.
鈥淲ala naman akong backer kasi na katulad niya. Para sa akin, sarili ko lang naman 鈥榶ung dinadala ko doon para ihain ang aking plataporma,鈥� said Poe.
(I don鈥檛 have a backer unlike other candidates. For me, I am just presenting myself and my platforms there.)
Nevertheless, she said, she remained thankful for the kindness, respect and warm welcome that she got when she met with the INC leaders in her two separate visits in the past weeks.
鈥淣aging napakamabait, magalang, at warm ang pagtanggap. At kahit 鈥榶on na lamang, ako鈥檡 nagpapasalamat, siyempre, sa kanilang kapatiran at samahan,鈥� the senator said.
(Their welcome was full of kindness, respect and warm. And even with that, I am thankful, of course, to their brethren and religious sect.)
搁贰础顿:听Poe, Escudero meet with Iglesia ni Cristo
Like the INC, Poe said she would also respect whatever decision that Bro. Mike Velarde鈥檚 El Shaddai would make in the coming days.
鈥楴ung nag-usap kami ni Bro. Mike, hindi pa sila nagdedesisyon. Pero ako naman, kung ano pa man ang magiging desisyon ng maski na anong organisasyon, siyempre, prerogatiba nila 鈥榶on at ginagalang natin. Tayo lang nga ang nagco-courtesy at humihingi ng tulong. So nasa kamay nila 鈥榶on at sila lang ang pwedeng magsabi,鈥� she said. RAM
(When Bro. Mike and I spoke, they have yet to come up with a decision. But for me, I would respect the decision of any organization because it鈥檚 their prerogative. We, candidates, are just paying courtesy calls on them to ask for their support. So, the decision is in their hands.)