Susan Roces distances herself from politics

CEBU, Philippines - With showbiz celebrities endorsing different presidential aspirants, Susan Roces, however, has not joined the bandwagon and given her endorsement despite the fact that the veteran actress has close friends among those running for the highest office in the land come 2010 elections, an online news report said.

In an interview with Pep.ph, the wife of the late actor Fernando Poe, Jr. who himself run for president in the 2004 national elections said, "Well, sa nakikita ko, marami naman tayong kandidato. Karamihan sa kanila ay very well qualified. Lahat sila magagaling. So, talagang dapat bawat isa sa atin, suriin talaga kung ano ang gusto natin sa kandidatong ating iboboto."

It is well-known that some of the candidates are close to her, such as the former president Joseph Estrada, longtime friend from the showbiz industry, who was credited as one of the most instrumental people who convinced FPJ to run.  

Roces, however, told Pep.ph that it is not an easy decision to give one's endorsement. "Talagang napakahirap at hindi rin naman tama na ang pagbabasehan lang ay dahil kaibigan ko siya or dahil mas malapit siya sa akin. So, hindi rin naman ako makakatulong kung yun ang magiging dahilan ng aking suporta."

She reiterated, "Katulad nga ng nasabi ko na sa inyo, dapat ay maging mapanuri tayo sa ating ihahalal na pangulo at iba pang mga opisyales. And in my personal opinion, lahat sila ay well qualified. Napakahirap na mag-endorso ng iisa lang. So, alam nila na bilang kaibigan, nandiyan lang ako kung kakailanganin nila ang suporta ko. Pero sa tingin ko naman, they are doing fine without having to ask things like that. Alam naman siguro nila ang sitwasyon."

She added that her most important responsibility was really to vote. "Sa palagay ko, ang responsibilidad ko ay bumoto. Katulad ng lahat ng Filipino, karapatan natin yun at dapat nating igalang."

She also expressed her approval at her daughter's decision not to join politics. News reports earlier touted that Grace Poe was joining the senatorial slate of the Liberal Party, which is fielding Sen. Noynoy Aquino for president. 

Roces said, "Ang anak ko ay nasa wastong gulang na. Siya ay may asawa na, siya ay may tatlong anak na. Kung anuman ang maging desisyon niya sa buhay ay kanya. Ako ay nandun lang para sumuporta. I'm very proud of my daughter with the decision she made."

Roces currently topbills the ongoing ChristmaSerye of GMA-7, Sana Ngayong Pasko, that will run for five weeks on GMA Telebabad.