Poe bares 2016 senatorial lineup

Published October 29, 2015 11:25am

(Updated 3:52 p.m.) Presidential candidate and Sen. Grace Poe on Thursday bared her senatorial lineup which she said will be her allies in pushing for the reforms she will initiate.

At the formal announcement of the lineup at Club Filipino, Poe said the lineup is composed of people who are not only good in what they do but most especially have a heart and compassion for the people.

"Sa pagbuo sa grupong ito, gabay ko ang hindi lamang ang may sapat na galing at talino kundi may puso at malasakit sa tao," Poe said in her speech after the senatorial slate was officially named at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City.

"Hindi kaya ng isang pangulo na solusyonan ang nagtambak na problema ng bayan. Kailangan ng katuwang sa tunay na pagbabago," she added.

She added that she thoroughly studied their track records and personalities.

Included in her lineup are:

Sen. Tito Sotto (Nationalist People's Coalition)
Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian (NPC)
Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares (Independent)
Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo (Liberal Party)
Former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri (Independent)
Atty. Lorna Kapunan (Aksyon Demokratiko)
Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno (Asenso Manileño)
Former Makati Vice Mayor Edu Manzano (Independent)
Philippine National Red Cross president and former Sen. Richard Gordon (Independent)
ACT CIS partylist Rep. Samuel Pagdilao (Independent)
Sen. Ralph Recto (LP)
Susan "Toots" Ople, president of Blas Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, who is also a guest candidate of United Nationalist Alliance

Most of the candidates were present during the official announcement at Club Filipino, except Recto who was represented by son Ryan Christian Recto.

The candidates

Cebu Rep. Ace Durano, campaign manager, introduced the senatorial candidates one by one and gave them time to say a few words.

First to be introduced was Sotto, whom he said was never late nor absent in the Senate session.

Sotto, for his part, said legislating for the common good is a continuing work in progress adding that there are more bills to file, more debates to do and more people to protect.

“Thank you for considering me. If your Papa (Fernando Poe Jr) were here, hindi siya papayag na hindi tayo magkasama,” he said.

Poe, in her speech, agreed with Sotto as she also lauded the latter’s work ethic and being her ally in public service and against illegal drugs.

Next was Romulo, whom Durano introduced as the grandson of Gen. Carlos Romulo and son of former Sen. Alberto Romulo but more popularly known as husband of Shalani Soledad.

Romulo, author of Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UNIFAST) in the House of Representatives, said he would push for the passage of the Freedom of Information bill, lowering of income tax, among others.

Kapunan was described as someone who will fight for women and children’s rights.

“I know what it’s like to fight for quality and life. Tama na ang selective justice,” she said.

Colmenares, meanwhile, highlighted his being a fighter, saying he was detained during the Martial Law when he was only 18 years old and tortured for four years.

Gatchalian, on the other hand, bannered his 15 years of being in public service, saying he will push for reforms in education, the economy, and governance.

“Inaalay ko po ang aking 15 taong karanasan bilang dating alkalde at ngayo’y kongresista ng lungsod ng Valenzuela, bilang tagapagsulong ng mga tunay na reporma sa edukasyon, sa pamamahala, at sa ekonomiya. Ang pangarap ko po ay pangarap rin ng bawat Pilipino: de kalidad na edukasyon, disenteng trabaho, at marangal na pamumuhay,” he said.

He, however, received giggles from the audience when he buckled at the end of his speech, forgetting the word ‘puso (heart)’ in Partido Galing at Puso.

Zubiri, for his part, said he no longer had plans to return to politics as he was content with his life as a farmer and a family man, but watching the film "Heneral Luna" inspired him.

“Ang ating henerasyon ngayon ang dapat gumalaw. Kung hindi tayo kumilos, ang may kasalanan, tayo na po,” he said.

Pagdilao said he would push for bills that would keep Filipinos safe.

“Pangako ko sa bawat Filipino ang matiwasay at tahimik na pamumuhay, malaya mula sa krimen at masasamang elemento na nagsisilbing salot sa lipunan,” he said.

Gordon, described as someone who has all the attributes of a transformational and inspirational leader, thanked Poe and Escudero for getting him as guest candidate.

He said the country’s leaders should not only be chosen because of their popularity but because of their capabilities and what they have done for the country.

Manzano said he would push for policies that would strengthen the Filipino family.

“Kung buo ang pamilya, ang social cost ay bababa dahil mababawasan ang drug dependent, hindi na mangingibang bansa o bayan dahil may job opportunity na rito, may maayos na edukasyon, healthcare,” he said.

Moreno, meanwhile, said he wanted to be the voice of the poor in the Senate as he knows what it feels to be among the lowest in the society.

He also assured Poe and Escudero that he will not let them down.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa inyong dalawa dahil kinilala ninyo ang 18 taon na experience ko. Hindi ko kayo ipapahiya,” he said.

Ople said she would bring the concerns of overseas Filipino workers in the Senate.

“Ang sinasabing bagong bayani ngayon ay takot na dumaan sa paliparan. Marami rin ang nasa death row na hindi nabibigyang pansin at hindi nabibigyan ng mahusay ng abogado. Ito ang mga gusto kong baguhin,” she said.

Ryan Christian Recto, who represented Senator Ralph, said his father has been tested and done a lot for the country.

“Subok na siya, maaasahan pa,” he said.

In introducing Poe as the main speaker, Escudero said his presidential candidate has no “B” apparently referring to his meeting with Vice President Jejomar Binay over the weekend which caused stir that he might be betraying his running mate.

“Ang Presidente ko po walang B, ang presidente ko po may G at may P. Meron po siyang angking galing at nasa tamang lugar ang kanyang puso,” he said.

Campaign logistics

Meanwhile, Poe admitted that they would have limited resources come the campaign period next year.

“Sabi namin sa abot ng aming makakaya ay magtutulungan kaming lahat,” Poe told reporters after the official announcement of their senatorial lineup.

“Naalala ninyo sa Bibliya, napakaraming tao, kulang ang dalang pagkain pero dahil sa pananalig at sa tamang intensyon ay napupunuan naman ang pangangailangan. Marami tayong mga supporters na kahit maliliit lang ang ambag ay malaking tulong na,” she added.

Asked about the support of Nacionalista Party and Nationalist People’s Coalition to their tandem since some members of the two parties were part of their lineup, Poe said the two parties have yet to give any commitment yet.

“Wala po silang statement na ganun at sila ang dapat matanong ninyo,” she said.

“Basta kami magtutulungan bilang isang grupo. Hindi man kami opisyal na partido, kami po ay kumpyansa sa isa’t isa at syempre kung may partido na gustong tumulong sa amin, maraming salamat kasi ang mga kasama namin dito may Aksyon Demokratiko, mayroong independent,” she added. —KG/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: eleksyon2016, gracepoe