Grace Poe running for President in 2016

(UPDATED 7:32 p.m.) After months of speculation, Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday night announced her candidacy in the 2016 presidential elections.

"Ako po si Grace Poe. Pilipino. Anak, asawa, at ina, at sa tulong ng Mahal na Diyos ay inaalay ko sa inyong lahat ang aking sarili sa mas mataas na paninilbihan bilang inyong Pangulo," Poe declared before a cheering audience at the UP Bahay ng Alumni.

Poe made the announcement months after topping the latest presidential preference surveys by both the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia and after meeting President Benigno Aquino III and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas of the Liberal Party and stalwarts of the Nationalist People's Coalition.

"Kaya nating marating ang ating mga mithiin para sa bayan kung magsisipag, magmamatyag at siguraduhin na may tapat na gagabay sa atin. Dapat sama-sama tayo. Hindi kaya ng iisang tao. Ang mangangako niyan ay nagsisinungaling na," Poe said.

"Sa ating lahat nakasalalay ang magiging kwento ng Pilipinas sa darating na panahon. Sana po ay samhan ninyo ako sa pagpanday ng maganda at makabuluhang hinaharap ng ating inang bayang Pilipinas," she added.

While acknowledging the present administration's work in rebuilding the public's confidence in leadership, Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday said the "tuwid na daan" is not owned by one person or group alone.

Aquino and Roxas actively pursued Poe to become the LP's vice presidential candidate, with both leaders adverting to a continuity of the tuwid na daan (straight path) or good governance platform.

'Walang maiiwan'

Making repeated references to the beliefs of her father, the late actor and one-time opposition standard bearer Fernando Poe Jr., the senator said the true mark of good governance is that nobody gets left behind.

"Kaya nating marating ang ating mga mithiin para sa bayan kung magsisipag, magmamatyag, at siguraduhin na may tapat na gagabay sa atin," Poe said.

"Dapat sama-sama tayo. Hindi kaya ng iisang tao. Ang mangangako niyan ay nagsisinungaling na. Sa ating lahat nakasalalay ang magiging kuwento ng Pilipinas sa darating na panahon," she added.

She also called on the people, "Sana po ay samahan ninyo ako sa pagpanday ng maganda at makabuluhang hinaharap ng ating inang bayang Pilipinas."

The lack of inclusivity of the country's economic growth over the past five years have been a constant criticism of the Aquino administration that has boasted of the modest economic gains, attributing them to good governance.

‘No monopoly of Tuwid na Daan’

In her announcement of her presidential bid for 2016, Poe thanked President Benigno Aquino III for the work he has done for transparency and accountability.

However, she pointed out, "Walang iisang tao o grupo na may monopolya sa tuwid na daan."

"Malaki at malayo na ang nagawa ni Pangulong Aquino kaugnay sa pagpapanagot sa mga tiwali, at ako'y personal na nagpapasalamat sa kaniya dahil nanumbalik muli ang kumpiyansa natin sa isang lider na tapat. Dapat lang na ituloy at pag-igtingin ang pagsugpo sa korapsyon," Poe said.

"Subalit 'di lamang isang tao o partido ang dapat nagsusulong nito, kundi ang bawat isang Pilipino," also promising to hold accountable those who are corrupt, regardless of affiliation," she added.


Three-way race

Poe's "important" announcement affirmed the possible three-way competition for the top position between Poe, Vice President Jejomar Binay, and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.

President Benigno Aquino III earlier said the Liberal Party is not worried about Poe running for president. The party had tried to woo the senator to run in 2016 as Roxas' running-mate.

Meanwhile, Binay and Poe had been alluding to each other in statements, tossing between them a battle between experience and honesty.

Her father's daughter

Poe's declaration was witnessed by her whole family, including her mother, veteran actress Susan Roces, husband Neil Llamanzares, and children Brian, Hanna, and Nika.

Personalities from show business and politics also attended the gathering.

They include former President Joseph Estrada's former executive secretary San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, NPC stalwarts Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga and Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin GatchalianBoots Anson-Roa, Albert Martinez, Zoren Legaspi, Carmina Villaroel and Jeffrey Santos.

The senator's next political move is reminiscent of that of her father, the late National Artist Fernando Poe Jr., who became the opposition's standard-bearer during the 2004 elections.

The renowned actor lost despite popularity ratings, paving the way for now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's controversial second term.

The younger Poe entered public service as the chairperson of the Movie and Television Classification and Regulatory Board (MTRCB) in 2010.

She then went on to run for Senate in 2013, her campaign a constant reference to her father and his aspirations. While she never topped surveys at the time, she became the surprise topnotcher of the polls, garnering at least 14.6 million votes.

As neophyte senator, she was noticed particularly as she led the Senate investigation on the bloody January 25 Mamasapano incident.

Since then, she has been seen as a strong contender for both president and vice president, with high ratings in recent surveys by Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations, even surpassing early favorite Vice President Jejomar Binay in presidential polls.

Citizenship issue

Even prior to this announcement, issues on Poe's citizenship and residency have floated, with a defeated 2013 senatorial candidate filing petitions against her before the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Rizalito David, who finished at 34th place in the last midterm elections, said the petitions he filed were based on the fact that Poe was a foundling, which brings to question the citizenship of her biological parents, as well as on the years she lived in the US with her family.

Maintaining she was ready to face the allegations, Poe has asked the SET to dismiss the disqualification case. The tribunal, in turn, dropped the residency issue and would focus instead on whether or not she is a Filipino. —NB/JST, GMA News