Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) – Sen. Grace Poe admitted Monday afternoon (August 17) that she had met with Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
Though she admitted that they had talked about the possibilities for 2016 presidential elections, Poe remained reserved on the details of their meeting.
The Liberal Party has been courting Poe to be Roxas’s running mate for the longest time.
But she said that running for president would be a sacrifice one has to make, like what her father did.
“Ang sabi nga nila: Bakit hindi magsakripisyo? Ang pagtakbo, lalo na sa pagkapangulo, ay malaking sakripisyo. Nakita ko po yan sa pagtakbo ng aking ama,” Poe told reporters.
[Translation: They say, why not sacrifice? Running for president is a huge sacrifice. I witnessed that when my father ran for office.”]
Poe’s father, Fernando Poe Jr., ran for president against Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during the 2004 elections. He died December of same year due to stroke after Arroyo defeated him.
“Tatayuan natin kung saka sakali man kung sa tingin natin ay mas maraming kabutihann may idudulot,” Poe added.
[Translation: We will stand by it, especially if this will be good for the people.]
Poe said she had imposed a deadline on herself, though she refused to tell the media when exactly that deadline would be.
Escudero unaware of Poe, Roxas meet
Escudero said he was unaware that Roxas and Poe met.
According to him, Poe did not need to tell him about it as he had nothing to do with it.
He also showed that he bore no bitterness about this meeting. He even reaffirmed his support for Poe, no matter what position she would choose.
“Uulitin ko yung sinabi ko: Aanuman ang takbuhan niya, presidente man o bise ninuman, susuporta ako sa kanya,” Escudero said.
[Translation: I will repeat what I’ve said, whatever position she runs for, president or vice president, I will support her.]
Escudero said everyone would have to wait until the filing of candidacies in October, and for now, nothing is official yet.
CNN Philippines’ Anna Estanislao contributed to this report.
