Poe slams Duterte’s type of government

TARLAC CITY, Philippines – Less than a week before the elections, presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe yesterday came out swinging, hitting rival Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and outgoing President Aquino.

In a speech at the Diwa ng Tarlac Convention Center, Poe hit Duterte for his penchant for violence, rejecting Duterte’s type of government based on fear and violence.

“The bullet cannot stop hunger in our country. The bullet cannot send poor families’ children to school. The bullet cannot give you enough livelihood and permanent jobs. The bullet cannot increase the income of farmers,” she said in Filipino.

Poe also shunned the swift execution of suspects in an apparent dig against Duterte-style leadership.

“What we need is a president who is focused on all the needs of our countrymen and who gives dignity to each Filipino. You were just accused and you would be assassinated, that should not be,” she said.

“The poor will be the victims of this leadership. Freedom is important to us. It is important that our leader is accountable and telling us the truth,” she added.

Poe also signed yesterday a bank waiver authorizing the Office of the Ombudsman to look into her bank accounts amid calls for transparency on the bank accounts of all presidential candidates.

This was done amid the controversy hounding Duterte for allegedly hiding over P200 million in his bank account and 40 properties.

“As a public servant, I firmly believe that it is every government official’s responsibility to give the people open and fair governance. I have signed a waiver of my bank secrecy rights, in line with my commitment to freedom of information,” Poe said.

Poe’s affidavit was notarized by Wayne Ablog Tugadi.

Poe also hit Aquino, saying she would appoint an able chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to address criminality in the country.

“I won’t engage in gunfights because the president should direct efficient people on various posts. So I will appoint police officials who can be trusted,” she said. “If they fail to solve crimes in your province, I will relieve them from posts at once. Sometimes in politics, some play favoritism.”

She noted that favored police officials are often retained in their posts despite the mistakes they committed in their jobs.

“The leader should look after your welfare and not heed what friends say. That’s what I am offering to you: a just government,” Poe said.

Poe said that her administration would uphold the country’s sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea dispute.

She also reiterated that her administration would focus on agriculture by improving the irrigation system, making loans available for farmers at low interest rates and by distributing fertilizer and farm inputs.

Poe vowed to pursue more programs related to education, including the distribution of free lunch and snacks in daycare centers and free tuition for deserving students.

‘Fernando-Poe’ woo voters in Marikina

Poe also campaigned in Marikina City on Saturday.

Dubbed as “Fernando-Poe,” the tandem of former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando and Poe wooed voters in Marikina.

Fernando, who is running for a congressional seat in district one, campaigned with Poe in some barangays in the city.

He chose to support Poe because he believes in her platform of helping the less fortunate and her plans on climate resiliency, he said.

Fernando and Poe also have the same projects in education and health. They plan to provide free education and hospitalization. 

Poe, for her part, said she admired Fernando’s policies when he was MMDA chairman and mayor of Marikina.

“We know that our roads are congested and we have many problems in infrastructure. But somehow, when Bayani Fernando was the MMDA chairman, he really implemented the law and made sure that the roads were being inspected,” Poe told the crowd of around 25,000 during the 5th National Fireworks Festival at the Marikina Riverbanks Center Amphitheater on Saturday night.

With six days to go before the May 9 elections, Poe said the campaign revealed that she is resilient, a characteristic that people did not know until she joined the presidential race.

Poe overcame disqualification cases involving her citizenship status and residency.

“I realized that I really have the courage, that I am braver and that I can stand up despite everything. I did it not only for myself but also because of what I want to do for our countrymen,” she said when asked what she learned about herself during the campaign.

“The objective of my candidacy is to offer myself for public service. Perhaps this is an alternative in having real change which will be fair to all,” she added.

Poe also reiterated how a woman like her would persevere to help the Filipino people. She said that while she is new in politics, she can deliver her promises to the people.

Singer-composer and actor Ogie Alcasid also attended the program. He expressed full support to Poe and her platform.

Alcasid, who had supported the Aquino administration, serenaded the crowd with his original composition titled “Gobyerno na may Puso,” a song dedicated to Poe.

It was the first time that Alcasid joined Poe’s campaign sortie. Two weeks ago, he resigned as member of the government’s EDSA People Power Commission.

On Saturday night, Poe also attended the prayer rally of El Shaddai led by Bro. Mike Velarde.

Breakfast with workers

Poe returned to Marikina on Sunday morning. She had a breakfast of coffee and pandesal with the workers of Manila Bay Spinning Mills at Barangay J. Dela Peña in celebration of Labor Day.

An urban poor coalition in Metro Manila also supports the candidacy of Poe because she is the only candidate with an agenda of providing the poor with decent shelter in the metropolis.

“Of all the presidentiables, only Senator Poe heard our prayers and agreed to include our proposals in her agenda of governance once she makes it to the top post of the land,” said Blanda Martinez, chairperson of the Broad Urban Poor Coalition.

During a gathering at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City over the weekend, the urban poor coalition and Poe signed a unity statement outlining the policy proposals that uphold the right of the people to the city, adoption of the in-city housing policy and others that would ensure delivery of affordable and decent shelter to the group.

At least 9,000 poor families from all over Metro Manila attended the event to show their support for Poe.

Poe welcomed their support, saying that the agenda of the coalition is very much aligned to her platform.

“The in-city housing policy is a clear manifestation of how we give importance to the right of the people to have affordable and decent homes inside the city where they are closer to their jobs and basic services of the government,” she said.

“It is not fair that home ownership is only available to those in the higher income levels. We should give adequate access for the people to achieve their dreams of having their own homes,” she added.

Poe also met with workers in Quezon City for a lunch meeting before going to motorcades in the cities of Antipolo, San Juan and Mandaluyong.

Earlier, local executives from the Bicol region, led by Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, joined the campaign for Poe, pledging to deliver votes for her.

Poe also gained new allies from the province of Zambales after several Liberal Party candidates for mayor and provincial board members chose to support her.

In Nueva Vizcaya, Deputy Speaker Carlos Padilla, wife Gov. Ruth Padilla and Vice Gov. Lambert Galima and his slate also back Poe’s presidential bid.

Women leaders are also supporting Poe with the recent launch of “Kababaihan para kay Grace Poe” in Quezon City. Among the members are former senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani, former senator Santanina Rasul, lawyer Katrina Legarda, Sister Mary John Mananzan, film director Bibeth Orteza, leaders of various women’s groups, and students.

Being the daughter of late actor Fernando Poe Jr. and actress Susan Roces, Poe is also being supported and endorsed by television and movie personalities, including Dingdong Dantes, Coco Martin, Vic Sotto and his wife Pauleen Luna.                – With Non Alquitran