Grace denies being under Chiz's control

Sen. Grace Poe on Wednesday defended herself against allegations she is being controlled by her running mate, Sen. Francis Escudero, saying she is very much her own person.

Speaking in a business forum, Poe admitted “learning a lot” from Escudero since she first met him in 2004 as the spokesperson of her father, the late action star Fernando Poe Jr..

She said they mutually respect each other even if they do not necessarily have the same viewpoints on all issues.

“[W]ith Senator Chiz, it’s clear that he respects and I respect also certain decisions we make, for as long as we know that what we are doing is actually for the good of the country,” Poe said in a forum organized by the Makati Business Club (MBC).

Recalling the briefings she held with MBC last year, Poe said she stood firm on her position on certain matters even if Escudero did not necessarily agree with her.

“You’ve seen that I would articulate to you exactly what my positions are and would argue with you. And whether or not Senator Chiz agrees with it, if I believe that this is what needs to be done, he respects it,” she told members of the MBC.

Compared to Poe, Escudero has had a longer stint in government, being a three-term congressman representing Sorsogon before becoming a senator.

During the question and answer portion of the forum, Poe revealed Escudero’s interest in managing the government’s key housing agencies but admitted she has not decided on what role to give him if ever they both win as president and vice president, respectively.

“Right now, traditionally, the vice president is assigned the role of being the HUDCC (Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council) head, and Senator Chiz seems to be—the housing, the housing department—and Senator Chiz seems to be open and, in fact, he already has some ideas,” she said.

The senator said Escudero has proposed to provide on-site resettlement for informal settlers so they do not have to be uprooted from their current communities. — APG, GMA News