MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The Independent Bishops Conference of the Philippines (not to be confused with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines) has just released the list of 12 Senatorial candidates it is endorsing for the coming May 13 elections.

However, Filipinos can’t help but notice that the bishops’ list shows one candidate whose name was stricken out and replaced with Senator Francis Tolentino.

Immediately, netizens speculated on which candidate the bishops chose, then subsequently dropped. Many believe it was Senator Grace Poe.

Poe, along with Cynthia Villar,  consistently topped the list in previous surveys conducted by SWS, Pulse Asia and other polling groups.

If indeed the cancelled name was that of Poe, she has no reason to say “salamat Poe” to the independent bishops.