Press Release
March 18, 2016

POE TELLS SUPPORTERS: NO SPECIAL TREATMENT

BACOLOD CITY--Leading presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe said neither political rivals nor allies would get any immunity from suit if they are found to have violated the law.

Speaking to media in Bacolod City, where she is campaigning with mother Susan Roces, Poe reiterated that she would not stand in the way of justice, regardless of who is at the receiving end.

"Ganito lang naman 'yung sa akin: kaibigan kita, ka-tandem kita, ka-senatorial slate kita--lahat tayo dapat gawin natin ang nararapat para sa bayan. Kung nagkasala tayo, kailangan nating pagbayaran 'yon," Poe said when was asked if she was willing to accept support from people with pending cases.

"Ako, bilang pangulo, kaibigan man kita o kaaway, 'pag mayroon kang dapat panagutan sa batas, hindi ko 'yan hahadlangan. Kasama 'yan ng proseso. Tatanggapin natin ang suporta pero hindi naman nangangahulugan na pikit-mata tayo sa mga bagay na dapat nating harapin at sagutin," she said.

More than 30 lawmakers gathered on Friday in Bacolod to officially announce their support for Poe and her running mate, Sen. Francis Escudero, leaders of the coalition Partido Galing at Puso. Negros congressman Alfredo Benitez has also expressed support for the tandem.

The mayors of San Carlos, Calatrava and Escalante in Negros Occidental, as well as local candidates of the Nationalist People's Coalition, also came out to welcome Poe, Escudero and their senatorial bets as they campaigned in San Carlos, Isabela and Bacolod.

Poe, who remains the top choice of voters for president, said she would also not intervene in the work of legislators, should she win in the May elections.

"Lahat naman ng tumatakbo mayroong magandang plataporma para sa bayan. Kahit sa aking senatorial slate, makikita niyo minsan may statement ako bilang presidential candidate that I believe in, not necessarily what the others are espousing," she said.

The role of the president, she said, is to push for bills that will be good for the country.

"At the end of the day, we allow the healthy discourse among members of Congress to vote for what they think is right. So the President should set an example. But it's part of the democratic system to have differing opinions every now and then," Poe said.

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