INDEPENDENT presidential candidate Grace Poe on Monday said she prays that, like her, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte should be allowed to run for president in next year’s elections.
“I hope that doesn’t happen. My prayer is he won’t be disqualified,” said Poe when sought for comment when told that Duterte could be disqualified from the presidential race.
“My prayer is that he will be given the chance to run because that is what we are fighting for. Whether he wins or not, we won’t know that until we put his name on the ballot,” she said.
Poe on Monday also said the life and ideals of her late father, the actor Fernando Poe Jr., continued to inspire her to serve those who have less in life so that they can have a better future.
“Ang buhay at simulain ni FPJ ay ehemplo ng tapat na paglilingkod, na walang hinihinging kapalit,” Poe said on her father’s 11th death anniversary.
“Tahimik siyang tumulong sa maraming nangangailangan, kung kaya siguro marami pa ring nagmamahal sa kanya hanggang ngayon.”
Speaking before supporters at the Manila North Cemetery, Poe, the leading presidential contender, said her father did not just help people through emergency assistance in times of urgent need, he also provided people with jobs and livelihood support.
Meanwhile, Poe said she doesn’t want to say she’s losing hope on the Comelec, where she is facing four disqualification charges over questions surrounding her citizenship and residency.
But she said she had faith in the Supreme Court, where her case will be ultimately be decided.
“That’s why we will focus our preparation there, the prayer that there will be justice at the Supreme Court,” Poe said.
Her running mate, Senator Francis Escudero, said Poe will not be vengeful if she wins the presidency despite the harassment she has been suffering.
Poe said her father was also slapped with a disqualification case when he ran for president in 2004.
FPJ lost to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but his camp claimed that Arroyo had cheated in the elections.
Poe is a disqualification case before the Comelec’s Second Division and three others at the First Division over questions on her citizenship and residency, and both ruled to disqualify her for misrepresentation.