POE TO WEED OUT CORRUPT OFFICIALS

GANDARA, SAMAR--Leading presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe, known for her calmness and composure, is taking a tough stance against corrupt and abusive people in government.

In a speech in the municipality of Gandara, Poe said she will not hesitate to send such people to jail as they do not belong to an open and transparent government, which she wants to establish.

"Magkakaroon ng pantay-pantay na pagtrato dito sa Pilipinas sapagkat kung ikaw ay nagnakaw, kung ikaw ay gumawa ng masama sa ating mga kababayan, kaibigan man kita o kaaway o pamilya, ipakukulong ko kayo," she said.

Under her "Gobyernong may Puso," she said she will stamp out the culture of "palakasan" and ensure that both allies and critics of the administration will be treated fairly. Poe said that her government will observe a system of strong merit and good governance.

People would not have to worry that their concerns will fall on deaf ears just because their leader is not allied with the administration, she said.

"Tama na ang sistema ng palakasan dahil kung ikaw ay kaibigan ng administration, okay ka; pero pag ikaw ay kalaban ng administrasyon may problema ka. Kaya kami nakaputi. Ang ating bansa ay dapat magsama-sama na. Dilaw, pula, asul--lahat kayo, kung sino ang nangangailangan," said Poe, who promised to be a unifying president.

In Samar, the country's third largest island in the Philippines, Poe bared her platform of government, which centers on improving the lives of poor and neglected Filipinos.

She said the top priorities of her "Gobyernong may Puso" will be free college education in state colleges and universities or a "study now, pay later" scheme in private schools; free lunches in public elementary schools; agricultural reforms; job creation; and quality, climate-resilient infrastructure.

Poe said that a woman's toughness is what the country needs. Women, she pointed out, never give up and get the job done.

"Ako ay pinalaki ng isang matapang, matapat at mabuting tao--si FPJ. Ang sinabi nila, 'kaya mo bang magtrabaho, matapang ka ba?' Katulad ng aking ama, matapang. Hindi sumusuko pero hindi mayabang," she said.