Recently, a presidential run by Sen. Grace Poe was described as a ray of hope for the Filipino people. But many traditional politicians, especially spokespersons of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), fearing a Poe presidency would put an end to their dynastic, plundering days, readily denigrated Poe, raising the issues of citizenship, residency, parentage and experience against her.
To date, most people see these brickbats against Poe as nothing more than a desperate political attempt to demolish the strongest threat to Vice President Jejomar Binay’s presidential ambitions. Recent statements from one of the daughters of Binay affirm that the UNA spokespersons may have harmed, rather than helped, the Binay cause.
Filipinos are not as dumb as UNA spokespersons believe. We saw how Poe prepared for Senate hearings on the mismanagement of the MRT, the Mamasapano massacre and Makati City Hall Parking Building II overpricing. We also saw how the UNA issues against Poe paled in comparison to the gravity of the charges against Binay and, mind you, these charges are now under investigation. As such, we hope that the UNA spokespersons’ antics propel Poe to walk the next 50 percent of the way to Malacañang.
Let’s start writing, talking, texting and e-mailing Poe to urge her to go for the presidency. Filipinos want an honest president, which UNA doesn’t offer.
—JOSE Z. OSIAS, jzosias@gmail.com