Poe: No regrets in not joining LP

MANILA, Philippines - Presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe has no regrets about rejecting President Aquino’s offer for her to be the running mate of Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II even if it meant not facing her present legal obstacles.

In a press conference yesterday in Dasmariñas, Cavite, Poe was asked if she had any regrets about not accepting the President’s offer now that she is facing disqualification cases involving citizenship and residency issues stemming from her being a foundling and former US citizen.

Poe said that the only thing she felt sad about was going separate ways with the President since they were allies during the 2013 senatorial election.

“But I have never changed my mind or thought that I should not have done that (running as an independent presidential candidate),” she said.

“I think that if I joined them then I probably would not be facing all these cases. But we would never know because that’s over now. The situation is different now,” she added.

After winning her disqualification case before the Senate Electoral Tribunal regarding her eligibility to continue serving as senator, Poe was disqualified by the Commission on Elections as presidential candidate. Poe’s camp has asked the Supreme Court to reverse the Comelec’s rulings.

Poe also said during the press conference that she has not received any feedback regarding the new DNA test conducted to prove that her biological parents were Filipinos.

The remains of three persons were exhumed in Guimaras three weeks ago so that their DNA samples could be tested alongside Poe’s.

Poe said that it would take two to three weeks for the results to come out but as of yesterday, she has not received any information about it.

But Poe said she has no intention of presenting the results of the DNA tests to the SC even if it turned out to be positive because the basis of her argument is the law.

She also reiterated that she would respect the decision of the high court, whatever it would be.

Poe still a presidential candidate

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said yesterday that Poe’s name would be on the ballots if the SC would not be able to resolve her disqualification cases by Feb. 1.

Jimenez also said that Poe is still on the list of presidential candidates.

The Comelec is set to start the printing of ballots on Feb. 1, reset from the original schedule of Jan. 27. – Marvin Sy, Sheila Crisostomo