Senator Grace Poe (MNS Photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — A political analyst believes Sen. Grace Poe has a good chance of beating Vice-President Jejomar Binay in the 2016 elections if she decides to run for president.
Political analyst Ramon Casiple said Poe is already a sure win for the vice-presidency. “She is the candidate to beat, more than one third want her,” he said.
But he also believes the senator has a good chance of beating Binay, who has long declared his intention to run for president, if she decides to run for the country’s top post.
”Pagdating sa presidente, ang interesting dito, medyo nagsimula siya sa malayo pero recently mabilis ang taas, halos 100% ang taas niya. At ngayon nasa posisyon na siya to contend even sa frontrunner na si VP Binay,” Casiple said.
”Kung itutuloy ang momentum na iyan, ako hindi nagdududa let’s say in six months pagdating ng filing ng candidacy, malamang baka lumampas pa siya.”
Poe on Monday confirmed that President Aquino met with her shortly before his recent trip to the US and Canada to discuss the 2016 elections, but she said the president did not ask her to run for any particular position.
At the meeting, Poe said the President only told her that the Liberal Party (LP) needs an alternative to the opposition candidate. Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance has openly declared his intention to run for president in 2016.
“Ang pinag-usapan namin ng ating pangulo ay ang kanyang layunin na makapili sila ng kandidato na unang una, mapagkakatiwalaan ng ating mga kababayan, at pangalawa, na may pagkakataong magtagumpay at ipagpatuloy ang kanyang mga reporma laban sa korupsyon at programa para sa mahihirap ng gobyerno,” Poe told reporters.
“Wala namang partikular na posisyon na sinabi sa atin ang pangulo. Pero para sa kanya, imporante nga ang pagpapatuloy ng reporma kung sino man ang papalit sa kanya.”
Poe, who recently closed in on Binay in a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) pre-election survey, also said she asked the President if he would be open to supporting a candidate like her who is not a member of the LP.
“Ang sabi naman niya, ang gusto niya magkaroon ng konsultasyon sa grupo niya para kahit hindi naman ekasktong Liberal. Pero ang prinsipyo na isinusulong niya para sa reporma ay may kakayahan ang taong gawin ‘yon, gusto niyang suportahan at least from a personal level,” she said.
“But of course the President has to consult his party for approval.”
Poe said she herself has not made up her mind about 2016, but that she may decide whether to run or not by June, when she was told the LP would make a decision about which candidates to field.
Meanwhile, an official of the Liberal Party believes Senator Poe should run for vice-president.
Caloocan Rep. and LP vice chairman for political affairs Edgar Erice said Interior secretary Mar Roxas is more prepared for the presidency than Poe even if the latter is emerging to be the more popular contender.
Erice stressed that the next president should have competence, integrity and experience – characteristics he believes Roxas embodies. He said although Poe is a good leader, it is too early for a political neophyte like her to seek presidency.
”Si Sec. Roxas, sa aking palagay, eh ganap na ang preparasyon niya for the presidency. Si Senator Grace Poe ay magaling na leader at ‘di na natin dapat siyang sayangin sa pamamagitan ng paghihinog sa pilit,” Erice said.
”Kailangan ihanda natin siya kumbaga kailangan niya ng pamamagitan ng internship. Ang pinakamagandang internship sa kanya ay ang maging pangalwang pangulo sa isang magaling na pangulo.” (MNS)