Presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe delivers her speech before the residents and supporters during campaign rally in Pagbilao, Quezon.听EDWIN BACASMAS
Senator Grace Poe vehemently听denied sending a feeler to听Vice President Jejomar Binay to offer him money allegedly听in听exchange for his withdrawal from the presidential race.
鈥淎bsolutely not, absolutely not,鈥� Poe said when a reporter asked if it was true that she听sent听businessman Bobby Ongpin to听talk and convince Binay to withdraw. Ongpin has been known to be a close friend and supporter of Senator Francis Escudero, her running mate.
READ: Ongpin: Chiz Escudero and Heart Evangelista are my dear friends
听鈥淭he first time I ever saw him (Ongpin) was in the wedding of Senator Chiz (Escudero) and that was it. I never talked to him. If there鈥檚 anybody that I would trust, it鈥檚 the same people that you see with me most of the time,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 very unfair that people will make that allegation. To talk to anybody to withdraw, I think, is too presumptuous of me and I think it鈥檚 too鈥攄efinitely not,鈥澨齭he said.
听Poe said she also has no money to make such offer and even if she听has, she said听she听would spend it for her own campaign.
鈥榊an na talaga, 鈥榩iso isa鈥� na talaga ang chismis pagdating sa eleksyon (That鈥檚 it, rumors like that circulate as elections near),鈥� she said.
鈥淯nang-una (First), how can I reimburse billions of pesos? If I need it, in my own campaign siguro. But right now, I have no means to be able to give that to anybody. At para din sa atin, pagdating sa campaign contributions, mag-ingat din tayo sa mga nagsasabi sa mga regalong tinatanggap nila. 鈥榊on siguro ang mas glaring.鈥�
(For us, when it comes to campaign contributions, let鈥檚 be careful of the gifts we receive. That鈥檚 what鈥檚 more glaring.)
Poe did not elaborate but her rival, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte earlier admitted receiving gifts,听including properties and cars from听his friend Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. TVJ
READ: Duterte admits receiving gifts from Quiboloy
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