Poe says political opponents are behind disqualification cases

             
                                                             Sen. Grace Poe 

Independent presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares boldly pointed to her two opponents in the May 2016 elections as the ‘masterminds’ in the series of disqualification cases filed against her.

Poe, however, did not name the two presidential bets but described them as having strong connections to legal luminaries and law firms.

The senator made the pronouncements a day after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division ruled to disqualify her on the grounds of ‘material misrepresentation’ for her failure to comply with the 10-year residency requirement for running for the highest government office.

“Napaka masigasig kasi ng prosesong ginagawa nila talagang gsto nila akong ipitin na, siguro kasama yan sa stratehiya nila , pero sino ba talaga ang magbe benepisyo ditto? (They are relentless with all the process that they are doing against me, they really want  me out. Maybe that is part of their strategy. But who is really going to benefit here?),” Poe told reporters in an interview after speaking at the Go Negosyo’s “Meet Your Presidentiables Series” at Solaire Resort and Casino in Pasay City.

Pressed to identify who these two opponents are, Poe replied: “Eh di yung mga katunggali ko. Yung dalawa na sigurado ako na may mga taong nagpaharap ng mga kasong iyon (Who else but my rivals. I’m very sure the two of them tapped these people to file cases against me).”

Though she did not name names, the lawmaker was apparently referring to former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Vice President Jejomar Binay both of who initially tried to convince her to be their running mate.

“Makikita naman ninyo sa mga galaw nila, sino ba ang may mga koneksyon sa malalakas na law firm? Sino ba ang may alam na nating dati pang mga kaalyado ng ibang mga tumatakbo (You can see it in their actions, who among them has connections to strong law firms? We even know some of them are allied with those who are running),” Poe said.

“Basta para sa akin po, itapon na niyong lahat yan, gusto niyong gawin yan para ma-disqualify ako, tatanggapin kong lahat yan (For me, just throw everything at me, do what you want to disqualify me, I will accept all of those things),” she said.

“Maglaban tayo sa tamang paraan, basta lamang, ang ating sinusuluong ay para sa ating mga kababayan huh, hindi para sa mga personal na interes lamang ninyo para kayo ay magwagi (Only let’s fight in the right way. As long as we are pushing for the welfare of our citizens, and not your own personal interest so you can just win),” added the senator.

Poe admits she feels disappointed, but vowed to fight the legal hurdles even if it reaches to the Supreme Court.