By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA, May 18 (PNA) -– Senator Grace Poe agreed with Vice President Jejomar Binay that experience and competence should be an issue in 2016 presidential election.
The first-term lady senator, however, believed that a candidate particularly for the highest position of the land should also be honest.
”He (Binay) is right that experience and competence is necessary but more than anything else, perhaps, is honesty,” Poe replied when asked by Senate media for comment on Binay’s statement.
Without naming names, Binay has said it would be risky to entrust the next government to those without experience and competence.
Binay declared his intention to run for president right after election as vice president in 2010 while Poe remains undecided as to her 2016 plans despite being statistically tied with Binay in the recent presidential surveys.
”I might have short period in public service compared to him but I tried to do everything to help specially our poor countrymen who experience injustice,” Poe said.
Poe said the Vice President supported the late former President Corazon Aquino “because her first qualification is honesty.”
Poe, the top senator in the last 2013 elections, continued to gain popularity with no less than President Benigno Aquino III talked to her about the 2016 elections.
When asked if Binay has the quality in terms of honesty as the next leader of the country, Poe said the answer would depend on how the Vice President responds to the allegations of corruption in connection with the Senate inquiries on the alleged overpriced Makati City buildings.
”For me, he can prove it (his innocence) if he will show up and personally explain the allegations against him, not through his spokespersons” Poe said.
With regards to her citizenship, Poe admitted that she was holding dual citizenship but she renounced her American citizenship when she was appointed chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) in 2010.
”I’m dual citizen then, but I had to give it up. Dual citizenship is allowed because we have OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) leaving in other countries but still love our country and they kept on coming back,” she explained.
Poe is considered one of the top performing senators of the 16th Congress, having authored and sponsored major bills including Freedom of Information Bill. (PNA)