COTABATO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 24, 2013) – Independent senatorial candidate Grace Poe should prove herself as a person and not not solely bank on her stepfather’s name to win a seat in the Senate, political analysts and critics said.
They said the truth is all she ever presents to the masses as her credentials and track record is being the stepdaughter of Fernando Poe, Jr (FPJ) and nothing more. And a number of cause-oriented groups and members of the civil society now dared Grace Poe to be her own person and not ride on Fernando Poe Jr’s popularity.
“She must prove herself as worthy to become a public servant. Get her late stepfather out of this and let’s see if she can make it to the senate,” a member of a cause-oriented group, said. “If we take a look at Grace Poe’s campaign poster, the picture of FPJ on the foreground is much bigger than hers. If one does not know that FPJ is already dead, he or she might think that FPJ is the candidate, not her.”
Analysts said she lacks the appropriate experience to become a public servant. They said being a senator is not an easy job and it is not a popularity contest wherein a candidate can win by besting all other candidates for his or her popularity.
“Come to think of it, what can a nobody do in the Senate? Let me remind Mrs. Llamanzares that being a senator entails having much experience in crafting legislation and public governance and not merely having the surname Poe,” one analyst said.
“If she has delicadeza, she will introduce herslef as Grace Llamanzares or stick to Llamanzares as her campaign name and by then we can really tell if she deserves the vote of the Masang Pilipino. Grace Poe must be reminded that voters are not swayed by her being a daughter of movie star – FPJ – as a qualification to public office.”
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