There is no doubt that Senator Grace Poe has the popularity, she has the numbers, if popularity polls are the sole criteria in the choice of our next President? But is she prepared to lead the nation if she wins? Is she equipped with the strength and the courage to stand up to China and the independence of mind to avoid being dictated upon by the US and Japan? Does Senator Grace Poe have the diplomatic acumen of Hillary Clinton or the political will of a Margaret Thatcher, the leadership skills of an Angela Merkel or the negotiating skills of an Indira Gandhi? If not, then, with due respect, we will just have a popular President without the needed competencies. We will have a repeat of President Cory Aquino and even PNoy.
There is no question that Senator Grace Poe has the perceived character and integrity. But can she lead a nation whose institutions are exceedingly damaged by endemic graft and whose bureaucracy is riddled with well-entrenched and pervasive corruptions? Can she slay the dragons of too much dishonesty in all echelons of government? Can she win over the syndicates and rings in the executive, in the legislative bodies, even in the judiciary? Can she really crack the whip against governors, mayors and barangay captains who deal with contractors and suppliers and overprice their purchases of goods and services? As chief executive, does she have what it takes to instill discipline among all functionaries? If not, wouldn't we be just repeating the Cory years?
Senator Grace Poe's popularity is anchored not on proven competence but on emotional attachments to his late adoptive father, the legendary Fernando Poe Jr. And we cannot govern the nation based on emotional attachments. There are simply far too many national problems that need to be solved. There are, first of all, the rising crimes, the worsening drug problem, with no less than two million drug addicts and more than twenty thousand drug pushers roaming around the streets and neighborhoods. Is Senator Grace prepared to address these gargantuan problems with enough will and skills? Can she gain the respect of the military and the police as commander-in-chief?
Can Senator Grace Poe solve the increasing poverty incidence, the lack of inclusiveness in the country's development? Can she address the worsening unemployment and underemployment? How would she tackle the endless diaspora of Filipino human capital, when more than five thousand Filipinos are leaving the country every single day? Can Grace Poe as president present a clear plan of action on how to put an end to human trafficking especially of women and children? How would she help the thousands of OFWs who are maltreated, abused, raped, and murdered in many host countries ? How about those who are going to be executed for drug trafficking and other heinous crimes?
We are not trying to insult the lady senator. And all these questions should also be propounded also to Vice President Jejomar Binay and Secretary Mar Roxas. But since, among those who declared their candidacies, it is she who has the most probability of victory, it is only fitting that we raise these questions so as to guide the voters on their final decision come May of 2016. We just wonder if her chosen running mate, Senator Chiz Escudero, would not only use her perceived winnability as a means for the gentleman from Sorsogon to consolidate power into his own hands? As between Poe and Escudero, it is the latter who is more astute, street-smart, and experienced in the dirty game of power play.