Susan Roces on Grace Poe’s presidential bid: She’s ready

MANILA, Philippines – Susan Roces spoke up on daughter Sen. Grace Poe’s recent announcement that she will run for president in the 2016 elections.

READ: Poe to run for president in 2016

In an interview with entertainment reporters in the sidelines of the press conference for ABS-CBN’s upcoming show “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” on Monday, the veteran actress said, that as a mother, she wants Grace to accomplish whatever she wants to achieve in life.

“Bilang magulang, lahat naman tayong magulang ibig natin makamit ng mga anak natin kung ano ang kanilang inaasam sa buhay,” she said.

Roces added: “Si Grace, ang napiling kurso sa kolehiyo ay Political Science. So, alam kong nakahanda siyang kaharapin ang ano mang concerns ang related sa trabahong 'yan.”

It’s been speculated since early this year that Grace will run in the upcoming presidential elections. Her mother Susan and sister Lovi Poe have earlier expressed support for the senator.

Asked if she is ready for Grace’s candidacy now that her daughter has officially declared her intentions to run for the land's top post, Susan said: “Bilang ina, never kang handa. May pangyayari na bigla ka na lang nagugulat."

READ: Lovi Poe on sister Grace Poe: I'm sure Papa is watching over her

But the 74-year-old actress said Grace’s concerns come first at this point. “Because it will be very selfish of a parent to be the one to decide kung ano ang para sa anak, not unless ang opinyon mo ay hinihiling,” she said. “Kapag nakikita mo na desidido sa kanyang ginagawa, andito ka lang upang manalangin, kung anong magagawa mo para makatulong.”

She further said: “Sa ngayon, ang aking pananatiling tahimik ang makakatulong.”

Susan’s late husband and Grace’s father Fernando Poe Jr. ran for president in the 2004 elections but lost to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Grace is currently facing a disqualification case filed by Rizalito David over questions on her citizenship.

A recent interview with a broadsheet, actress and Grace’s cousin, Sheryl Cruz, admitted she thinks the senator is not ready to become president.

READ: Disqualification case vs Grace finished by November – Sotto