6 Indications Grace Poe is Running for President

She may not have yet announced her plans for the 2016 Philippine Elections but everyone if not almost everyone in the country are sure Sen. Grace Poe have already decided to run for president. While she keeps on saying she is still contemplating whether to pursue higher office in 2016 or remain in the Senate since her first term will end in 2019, the Senators body language tells otherwise.

The way she answers media questions about the upcoming election gives good sign of her real intention come 2016 Presidential Elections. In fact in a report by Rappler, the Senator is suppose to declare her Presidential bid on Wednesday September 16. The report also named possible Senatorial line-up being considered by Poe.

Long before that development, it has really been obvious that the lady Senator have already decided on her political plans. And here are the 6 indications that Senator Grace Poe is running for President.

1. Provincial Sorties

Since July of this year, Senator Grace have gone on different provincial sorties with close friend and ally Sen. Chiz Escudero. They were both present in South Cotabato in the guise of being guests in the provinces’ Tinalak Festival. Last month she was in Pangasinan for her so called “Youth Campaign Bandwagon.” Pangasinan is said to be Poe’s bailiwick as her adoptive father the late FPJ traces roots in San Carlos City. It was in August also that Senator Poe went to a university in Cebu where she enumerated possible platform in the 2016 Presidential elections.

2. TV Ad

Just before the birth anniversary of his adoptive father, FPJ, a TV ad came out on national television. While her camp denounced calling it a political ad and said it was just a tribute to his father, it will not be hard to speculate as such because it shows some of her accomplishments. It also contains a slogan at the end of the video saying “Walang Maiiwan”, which is widely believed as her would be campaign slogan in 2016.

3. Media Exposure of Son Bryan

If the Robredo siblings are very categorical in saying they don’t want their mother, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo to run for higher office in 206, Sen. Poe’s family especially his son Bryan Llamanzares have expressed full support in her mother’s decision to think of gunning for a higher position. Bryan even divulged he already took leave of absence from CNN Philippines to prepare and help her mother in the possible 2016 campaign.

*photo from inquirer.net

4. Meeting with NPC

Senator Grace Poe and Sen. Escudero had a series of meetings with the 2nd largest political party in the country, Nationalist People’s Coalition. The first meeting held last August 11 was the first and was tagged as the “getting to know” dinner with some NPC members inclined and are pushing for NPC’s support for Poe. Second meeting was held August 18 with the Vis-Min NPC leaders in a clubhouse in Quezon City. Just recently on August 27, Poe and Escudero met NPC for the third time. It was reported that some 40 NPC members met with Poe and Escudero in NPC clubhouse in Quezon City.

*photo from abs-cbnnews.com

5. Attending meeting with Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle

Just last week, September 7, Poe together with 2 declared presidential aspirants Vice President Jojo Binay and Mar Roxas met with Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle at the Arzobispado de Manila in Intramuros. Organized by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), the meeting was said to be an informal dinner with the Cardinal and some prayer time. Why would one accept an invitation with 2 known presidential candidates if you don’t consider yourself a candidate also?

Although they didn’t talk politics with the Cardinal as stated on reports, the essence of calling the three for a meeting says it all.

6. Pandering INC rally

This probably is the greatest indication that the lady Senator is running. Last August 27- 31, religious group INC took the streets of Manila and EDSA to voice out the alleged government’s breach of their right to separation of church and state. While many people said what they want has nothing to do with the separation of church and state, several politician panders with the INC and that includes Sen. Grace Poe. In a statement she said their rights should be respected and protected and that they are just protecting their faith. She even called on SOJ Leila de Lima to look instead on other cases instead of the INC issue.

With that, there’s no need for us to wait for any declaration because action speaks louder than words. Her body language since the survey numbers came out says it all. She may be mum and coy every time she’s being asked about 2016, but her actions clearly shows she had already decided to field herself in the Presidential derby in 2016.

—————————————————————————————————-

Nite Writer is on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NiteWriterPH and you can also follow me on Twitter @rojan88